History Theatre / Chess

* {{Expy}}: Freddie is pretty clearly an unflattering take on Bobby Fischer. Which, if you know Bobby Fischer's history, is not very hard to understand.

* AmbigiouslyGay: Freddie can be played this way — Anatoly calling him a fruit in early versions of “Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)”, his issue with being called queer in “Pity the Child”, him physically assaulting a reporter for questioning his relationship with Florence, and the real-life chess player he was modeled after being a BoomerangBigot certainly aren’t helping his case, nor are productions that give him prominent makeup.

* FinalLoveDuet: Subverted with "You and I (Reprise)"

* IrrelevantActOpener: "The Story of Chess" has nothing to do with the actual plot of the show. "Merano" and "One Night in Bangkok" have very little to do, either, only describing the locations.

--> ''Even worse, imagine if [[YourCheatingHeart his ladies met]]''

* CallAndResponseSong: Portions of "One Night in Bangkok".

-->'''Freddie:''' One town's much like any other when your head's over your pieces, brother.

* IronicEcho: In the end of "Florence Quits", The American sings "I'm not the kind to be vindictive, holding some childish grudge...". "Pity The Child" explicitly reveals that The American does in fact hold quite a grudge against his father who left him and his mother, and his mother whom he never really had any real relationship with, stating that to her, he was "only her son". May also qualify as a TearJerker.

** [[DependingOnTheWriter Some productions]] attempt to transform him into a JerkassWoobie; YMMV on whether it works or not.

** Florence has a leitmotif in "Nobody's Side," a song about her HeroicBSOD. [[FridgeHorror As her leit motif, elements of the song show up frequently.]]

* NoAccountingForTaste: Florence and Freddie. WordOfGod confirmed this at the album stage, however by the time the production rolled round, the need for AdaptationExpansion means that Florence ''says'' she loves him. Also implied for Anatoly and Svetlana.

** And then there's the RealitySubtext.

* DownerEnding: Anatoly throws the match to Freddie, and returns to Russia with Svetlana, both of whom realize that their marriage will continue to be a loveless one, and Ivan, [[spoiler:for the chance of Florence being reunited with her father. Except Walter reveals it was all a ploy, and there is no proof that her father is even still alive, leaving Florence, who has left Freddie, lost Anatoly, and been used by the C.I.A. completely alone, sinking to the ground sobbing.]]

->''"The game is greater than its players."''

->''"It really doesn't matter who comes out on top, who gets the chop;''
->''no one's way of life is threatened by a flop.''
->''But we're gonna smash that bastard!''
->''Make him wanna change his name!''
->''Take him to the cleaners and devastate him!''
->''Wipe him out, humiliate him!''
->''We don't want the whole world saying''
->''[='=]They can't even win a game![='=]''
->''We have never reckoned on coming second;''
->''There's no use in losing!"''
-->--'''''"[[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks U.S.]] [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar versus]] [[UsefulNotes/RedsWithRockets U.S.S.R.]]"''''' ''(also called'' '''''"Difficult and Dangerous Times"''''''')''

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Freddie is an eccentric personality, to be sure. Molokov is convinced he is a madman. Anatoly, who has considerably more insight, believes him to be a genius who has revolutionised the sport.

* DownerEnding: Anatoly throws the match too Freddie, and returns to Russia with Svetlana, both of whom realize that their marriage will continue to be a loveless one, and Ivan, [[spoiler:for the chance of Florence being reunited with her father. Except Walter reveals it was all a ploy, and there is no proof that her father is even still alive, leaving Florence, who has left Freddie, lost Anatoly, and been used by the C.I.A. completely alone, sinking to the ground sobbing.]]

* ShoutOut: Creator/TimRice named Florence after his [[CoolOldLady gran.]]

* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Josh Groban, singing the part of Anatoly in the 2008 concert. His performance arguably better for it. Averted by Molokov.

** Anatoly plays Viigand in the final match. Anatoly [[spoiler:wins]]. Florence [[spoiler:actually gets]] reunited with her father. (Seen in a 2011 German production.)

* {{Expy}}: Freddie is pretty clearly an unflattering take on Bobby Fischer.

A RockOpera with music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of Music/{{ABBA}} and with book and lyrics by Creator/TimRice. It was originally produced as a successful ConceptAlbum in 1984, then became a West End production, and eventually reached Broadway. Each version of the show underwent changes in story and music; Rice considers the most recent version, performed in concert at Royal Albert Hall in 2008, to be the official one.