Lea Michele Dazzles in Uneven 'Chess' Revival on Broadway

Seven months ago, a revival of the musical 'Chess' opened on Broadway, featuring music and lyrics by ABBA's Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice. The production, directed by Michael Mayer and with a new book by Danny Strong, aimed to breathe new life into the famously messy and reworked musical.

At the center of the revival was a standout performance by Lea Michele as Florence Vassy, the woman caught in the middle of the Cold War chess rivalry between American player Freddie Trumper (Aaron Tveit) and Soviet player Anatoly Sergievsky (Nicholas Christopher). Michele's vocal prowess and commanding presence on stage solidified her return to Broadway, as she shared the stage with her co-stars without ever overpowering or scene-stealing.

However, the production itself faced ongoing challenges. The revised book by Danny Strong, which aimed to provide wider historical context by setting the first act during the SALT II treaty negotiations and the second act during the Abel Archer 83 military exercises, ultimately fell short. The shifting allegiances and the idea that the outcome of a chess match could lead to nuclear war felt convoluted and unrealistic.

Despite the production's flaws, the revival still managed to showcase the strengths of the 'Chess' score, with powerful musical moments like "Nobody's Side," "Anthem," and "I Know Him So Well." Nicholas Christopher also delivered an impressive performance as the cynical and suicidal Anatoly, proving that strong acting and character work are vital to this role.