4 out of 5 stars

“Chess” is a textbook example of the problem-child musical, but can the Cold War tale finally be sorted out? That’s the “Merrily We Roll Along”-like question raised by this revival. The answer: The show may still not be perfect, but this reworked version brings an edge of irony that helps you forget some structural weaknesses and allows you to celebrate the ABBA guys’ insanely tuneful score at the same time. Oh, and that cast! The trio of Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher delivers the goods and then some. Don’t forget Bryce Pinkham in the narrator role, either. — Charles Passy

At the Imperial Theatre; chessbroadway.com. (Review date: Nov. 16, 2025)