Chess, The Musical

Ethereal Fantazy — MTC Mainstage

This 90-minute show has a cast of 14, as well as live music provided by a four-piece band. This is a big show about American and Soviet chess grandmasters dueling for the world chess championship crown, and the love of a woman, in a proxy Cold War of their own.

The source material was composed by Tim Rice and the male members of ABBA in 1984 after the demise of that group.

This Fringe production has pleasant singing, but unfortunately the players don’t use mics and are often overpowered by the band. With it being difficult to hear everything clearly, it is easy to lose important story elements.

Konrad Antony