For the amount of behind the scenes star power poured into the 1984’s concept album “Chess,” including music by ABBA’s Benny Anderrson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, lyrics/concept by Tim Rice (“Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Evita,” eventually “The Lion King” and “Aladdin”), plus a book by Richard Nelson, it didn’t exactly translate to universal appeal on either West End or Broadway.

Despite the fact that it rarely gets mounted nowadays due the sheer scope of the production, complicated soundtrack, its three-ish hour runtime or relative obscurity, the show has steadily risen in cult-like credibility and got an unlikely second sweep as a concert-only CD and DVD led by Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal.

Credit the PM&L Theatre in Antioch for having the courage to excavate the underrated opus in a fully-staged format (presumably for the first time in town since 1990 at the Marriott Lincolnshire), and while the intimate environment couldn’t accommodate all the excesses of the multi-million-dollar original, it made extremely creative use of its space and resources.

That meant a mixture of live action and occasional video montages, plus a small but versatile stage that allowed the 26-member cast a chance to get cozy to the beats of a five-piece band under the direction of longtime admirer and venue collaborator Lorrie Ferguson.

Those that filled up the picturesque space on opening night were witnesses to a fiercely competitive match (think the “Rocky IV” of chess) between America’s forerunner Freddie (the hilarious Jeffrey DuBois) and Russian champion Anatoly (vocal dynamo and future marquee name Michael Metcalf) under the watch of The Arbiter (fellow belter and ace recording artist in his own right Kevin Pollack).

Then there’s the speedy love triangle involving a Hungarian American assistant Florence (the believable PM&L pillar Rebecca Zellar) adding to the gripping metaphor for both countries’ peace relations throughout the Cold War.

In other words, as each actual chess piece publically advanced at the hands of these arch enemies, the lovers, politicians and spies privately maneuvered for each other’s preferred positions.

Musically speaking, ABBA-esque synth pop with classical leanings enhanced the intrigue, carried by such cornerstones as “One Night in Bangkok,” “I Know Him So Well” and “Heaven Help My Heart.”

It’s all more than enough for anyone who’s ever wanted to see “Chess” to make whatever drive is required (allow around two hours from Chicago), and even those coming into the revival ice-cold are likely leave gratified having encountered a completely peerless adventure of the heart and mind.

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“Chess” continues at the PM&L Theatre through Nov. 24. For additional details, visit PMLTheatre.com.