Over the years, “Chess” has acquired this reputation as a musical with a great score, by Tim Rice and ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, that has been cursed by Rice’s problematic book. For the ...

Regardless of the version, there is a compelling human drama at the center of “Chess,” floating atop some killer songs and an often gorgeous score. In its sweeping musical moments (“Nobody’s Side,” ...