Book by
Douglas McGrath
Words and
music by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
Directed by
Marc Bruni - Choreographed by Josh Prince
Musical
Direction by Daniel Edmonds
Scenery
designed by Derek McLane – Costumes designed by Alejo Vietti
Sound Design
by Brian Ronan – Lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski
Sydney Lyric
Theatre from 23rd September 2017 to 21st January 2018
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
Prolific
singer/song-writer, Carole King, continues to enjoy a successful career, and
this glitzy, hugely entertaining musicalisation of her story, will do that
career no harm at all.
For his
witty, perceptive book for the musical, Douglas McGrath has concentrated on
perhaps the most fertile period of her life, where she met and married
lyricist, Gerry Goffin, and together they earned a living writing hit songs for
other artists. He also includes their friendship with rival song-writing team,
Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, together with a liberal selection of the
quartet’s best songs, to create a fast-moving montage of their lives as jobbing
song-writers in New York.
Along the way
the audience is treated to interpretations of their songs from the point of
conception, to their ultimate realisation by the artists for whom they were
written. The Shirelles, the Drifters, the Righteous Brothers, Little Eva, Neil
Sedaka, Janelle Woods and Marilyn Wald all make appearances in snappily
choreographed vignettes, until the show reaches its emotional climax at the
Carnegie Hall concert celebrating the success of King’s break-through solo
album “Tapestry”.
 |
| Mike McLeish (Don Kirshner) - Josh Piterman (Gerry Goffin) - Esther Hannaford (Carole King) Mat Verevis (Barry Mann) - Amy Lehpamer (Cynthia Weil) |
The
friendship between the four is charmingly portrayed and you’ll be diving for
your handkerchief before “You’ve Got a Friend” is even half-way through. But
while the relationship between Mann and Weil appears steady, the bumps in the
relationship between King and Goffin, including King’s early pregnancy, their
hurried wedding, Goffin’s infidelities, his battle with mental illness,
substance abuse and their ultimate divorce, provide the musical with a strong dramatic
core.
 |
| Esther Hannaford as Carole King in "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical" |
Esther
Hannaford gives a warmly luminous performance as Carole King. Her transition
from talented gawky teenager to mature performer is beautifully portrayed in a
performance that convincingly captures King’s deportment, singing voice and
piano style. The emotional scene in
which she sings “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman”, at first reluctantly,
then triumphantly, in a hushed recording studio, is one of many memorable
highlights in Hannaford’s immersive portrayal which lifts this show above
others of the genre.
Josh
Piterman also impresses as Gerry Goffin, bringing an admirable depth to his
portrayal, and providing their scenes together with an intriguing undercurrent
of suppressed frustration. Amy Lehpamer
and Mat Verevis as Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, add the spice, with Lehpamer
almost stealing the show with many of the best lines and the most stylish
costumes. There are also fine performances from Mike McLeish as music publisher,
Don Kirshner, and Anne Wood as King’s supportive mother, Genie Klein.
Marc Bruni’s
slick direction brings real Broadway gloss to this impressive production with
its lightning- fast costume changes, revolving pianos and funky choreography. Spot-on musical direction by Canberra’s own
Daniel Edmonds insures that precisely the correct mood is established for each
of the songs which provide the memorable soundtrack for a feel-good musical which
certainly lives up to its title.
Photos by Joan Marcus
This review also appears in Australian Arts Review. www.artsreview.com.au
