Chess the Musical has had more than it's fair share of abuse by critics and theatre patrons in it's lifetime, but if those critics watched this adaptation, they would take it all back.
It portrays the characters incredibly well with very minimal set pieces for them to play off, and the actors and actresses do a fantastic job. Apart from one: Idina Menzel. She spends most of the second act with her hands in her pockets, and is outdone in every duet by the other singer, whether it be Josh Groban or Kerry Ellis! In my opinion Idina and Kerry should have swapped roles, but even so Kerry does an amazing job as the Russian's wife.
Josh Groban as the Russian Anatoly Sergievsky plays the character as the tormented, patriotic lover who's emotions always threaten his mental stability but who in the end makes the right decision. Adam Pascal's American Freddie Trumper is brilliantly flawed, egotistical, racist, yet emotional. Pascal's main song, Pity The Child, is absolutely marvellous.
A truly magnificent piece of musical theatre, expertly adapted for a concert setting.