If you don’t know of Carole King, you’ll have certainly heard her music.
After watching ‘Beautiful – The Carole King Musical’, you’ll most certainly be wanting to hear more of the fabulous singer song writer. I fall into the category of knowing her work, but not knowing her story. This musical gives a fascinating insight into her rise to stardom and the emotion behind some of the worlds biggest hits.
The show begins with Carole at the peak of her fame in 1971, sat at her piano in Carnegie Hall, before we’re transported back to a 16-year-old Carole, desperate to sell her first song ‘It Might As Well Rain Until September’ to golden-eared Don Kirschner. It was the 1950’s, a time when song writers churned out songs like a machine for the stars of the day.
Some of Carole’s best known songs were recorded by the likes of The Shirelles, The Drifters and The Monkees, who famously left the Kirschner fold, only to never have the same success. So perfect at song writing, along with her husband, Gerry Goffin (Kane Oliver Parry), they even made a star of their baby sitter, one Little Eva.
It is the relationship with Goffin which is the catalyst for many of Carole’s hits. When sung by Carole you hear the raw emotion and pain behind the words, sometimes lost when reworked by the artist. For me these are the better sounds, purer and more heartfelt. It comes as no surprise that Carole’s album ‘Tapestry’ became one of the most influential and best-selling of our time. Actress Leigh Lothian as an extremely likeable Carole delivers them perfectly and plays Carole beautifully, portraying a real sense of hurt on discovering Goffin’s womanising with her delivery of ‘One Fine Day’. Leigh is actually alternate/understudy Carole. I’m unsure if she will be playing Carole for the duration of the production in Nottingham, but the role seems made for her, capturing a sweet naivety.
Credit also to Emma Lucia for suddenly stepping into the role of fellow songwriter Cynthia Weil. Emma too is an understudy but took over after the production had to be suddenly halted, just prior to the characters first appearance. Sassy in comparison to Carole, her professional and personal relationship with Barry Mann (Mathew Gonsalves) and their friendship and competitiveness with the Carole and Gerry, adds to the story and gives way to the introduction of their musical catalogue also.
The formula for the songs in the production is often the same, with the writers working on them around a piano, then thanks to a clever set designed by Derek McLane, which slides furniture and back drops in and out, with a flash of light, the acts which made the songs famous pop up to sing them in full. Personally I’d prefer it the other way round, with the chance to hear more of the songs from Carole and Co in their raw form. The acts are a little bit ‘Stars in your Eyes’ and give raise to some chuckles from the audience. Not a bad thing to add a little humour, but it can detract from a good story.
Based on the book by Douglas McGrath, yes, you could categorise it as a jukebox musical, but under the direction of Marc Bruni, we have here something far warmer and heartfelt than just a compilation of hits.
The production ends as it begins, with Carol at Carnegie Hall, but two hours later you feel you know her a whole lot better and you understand the joy, strength and triumph in her delivery of the title song ‘Beautiful’, as she learns to trust her own voice and decisions.
The audience was on their feet long before the closing bars, and fully appreciative of a powerful encore of ‘I Feel the Earth Move’.
Make sure you get a chance to see this beautiful production.
LOCAL LISTINGS INFORMATION
BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
Theatre Royal Nottingham
Tue 17 – Sat 21 October 2017
Tue – Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Thu matinees 2pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
Tickets £19.50 – £49.50 plus discounts for Royal Members*, Under 16s, Go Card** holders and Groups
Box Office 0115 989 5555
*Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham Royal Membership scheme offering ticket discounts, exclusive pre-sales, meet the cast nights and more www.trch.co.uk/membership
**Go Card free scheme for full-time students and under 26s offering ticket discounts for Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall Nottingham events www.trch.co.uk/gocard
By Tanya Louise
Editor
@tanyalouise_
