Queen City Theatre Company has enough intuitive to calculate smooth moves in its staging of the cult rock musical Chess. Director Glenn T. Griffin stars as Soviet chess master Anatoly Sergievsky who battles the American Freddie Trumper in a world championship set during the height of the Cold War. But it’s not all about the game. Even more important is the fierce competitiveness to win over the love of a beautiful woman. The show’s press release states, “The ancient and distinguished game of chess is used as a metaphor for romantic rivalries and political intrigue.” It’s a good thing, too. Not that anything’s wrong with a good ol’ game of chess, but it’s far less entertaining to watch as it is to play. Piece by piece, it all comes together with music by Björn Ulvaeus/Benny Andersson for the queening. For more information, visit www.queencitytheatre.com. $24-$28. June 1-4, 8 p.m.; June 5, 3 p.m.; June 7-11, 8 p.m. Duke Energy Theatre, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000. www.blumenthalarts.org.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2011.
