Chess (Gallery Players)
Chess (Gallery Players)
73% 44 reviews
73%
(44 Ratings)
Positive
77%
Mixed
18%
Negative
5%
Members say
Entertaining, Ambitious, Absorbing, Great singing, Dated

About the Show

2018 marks the 30th Anniversary for this landmark musical. Here the ancient game becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, super power politics, and international intrigues.Β 

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Critic Reviews (3)

Blog Critics
April 24th, 2018

"Thrilling music and beautiful melodies...A dud of a book...Napier and Chitel both have warm, appealing presences and good voices...Donnelly works hard to enliven the story, and has the pipes...for the role's challenging vocal demands. That his big revelatory number comes so late that we've long since lost interest is only one of the show's innumerable flaws...Worth seeing for the music alone...Despite the balance problems this production puts it across well."
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Show Showdown
April 27th, 2018

"I have identified the problem with the musical 'Chess.' It's bad...The entire show can be lifted by a really good production, with performers filling in the blanks left by the writing...Sad to say, the Gallery Players production does not raise up the show. In fact, it helps to sink it...Harborth's direction is the three-dimensional manifestation of 'full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'...He slathers on noise and movement, hoping that energy will cover up the weak structure underneath. It doesn't."
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A
April 29th, 2018

β€œWhen you play chess, you must be careful to select only the most strategically advantageous moves. This play highlights the fact this is also true in matters of the heart and regarding issues of statecraft. For those who are fans of the musical, you will not be disappointed with this 30th anniversary revival. Producing and directing this complicated musical is not an easy task but The Gallery Players are to be congratulated for pulling it all together in a manner that will please most people.”
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