This is our review of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre. So, let’s take a look at Beautiful: The Carole King Musical!
Synopsis Of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
At the beginning of this show, Carole King (Bronté Barbé) is about to perform in front of a huge audience in Carnegie Hall, and she openly questions what she is doing there. However, as the story unfolds, the question is not what she is doing there, but how she did not get there sooner. King had a lifelong talent to sing, going back to her youngest days when performing with her mother (Genie Klein, played by Carol Royle), who recommends that she become a teacher instead.
Ultimately, her talents continue to grow, and after some occasional performances alongside her friends within the music industry, she decides to give it a shot as a singer, and her success is almost immediate, bringing her to the grand stage and the massive accolades that her first-class vocals deserve. But while that may be the happy ending that Carole King fans will love to see play out, her journey is more complicated than that.
King is an introvert, someone who hides her true feelings due to a lack of confidence, while being someone who is easy to like and offers her full support right back. These mannerisms lead her to meet Gerry Goffin (Kane Oliver Parry), the typical high-school jock, while both are in college. They strike up a romance very quickly over their shared passion for music, but while both are excellent singers, it is their ability to create music that truly brings them together. Carole puts together the tunes, while Gerry writes the lyrics. After catching the attention of Don Kirshner (Adam Howden), a local music producer who demands high quality but also has a heart, the team of Carole and Gerry begins to make strides.
Rivalry
They are assigned the task of writing songs for the various acts that Don manages. These range from Neil Sedaka to The Drifters to The Shirelles. In the meantime, a friendly rivalry develops with the combo of Cynthia Weil (Amy Ellen Richardson) and Barry Mann (Matthew Gonslaves), as both are aiming to deliver a #1 that can not only reach the top of the Billboard 100, but can also set them up financially for years to come. After both sides come up with moderately-successful tunes, Carole and Gerry come up with the classic song Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
With some added orchestral background music, this becomes a huge hit for The Shirelles, and this along with further #1 tracks means that Carol and Gerry have officially made it. However, it isn’t long after this that the cracks begin to form in not only the business partnership of Carol and Gerry, but also their relationship as a couple (the two quickly married upon Carol becoming pregnant at an early age, and a second daughter being born in later years).
Tension
There is also tension between Cynthia and Barry. Cynthia wishes for it to remain business despite them having romantic feelings and essentially being together. Meanwhile, Barry wants a commitment in the form of them living together and marrying. This plot develops as the story goes on. But the bigger issues concern Carol and Gerry. And more than once, it seems like their bond will come to an abrupt end. Carol is such an understanding, forgiving person that her positive traits work to her detriment.
And eventually, she is faced with some very tough decisions. These will ultimately define the path she takes forward. Not to mention the potential success or lack thereof that the rest of her career may enjoy. Of course, there is also the possibility that she goes in a different direction while remaining in music. In some ways, her highlights here represent the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.
Analysis Of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
The story begins with Carole as a very talented 16-year-old girl living with her mother. Her mother wants her to become a teacher. A role in which she demonstrates great talent based on her piano playing and singing. Her school friend encourages her to go to a studio and get signed up. From there, the school friend introduces Carole to Gerry Goffin, with whom she falls instantly in love. The pair join forces and become sensational musicians and songwriters. They wrote many hits for The Drifters, Shirelles, Neil Sedaka, and many more. But from there, problems begin to arise.
Molly Grace Cutler as Carole provided a remarkable performance. She had a Beautiful singing voice, hence the title. Meanwhile, Gerry Goffin was played by Tom Milner, Seren Sandham as Cynthia Weill, and Jos Slovick as Barry Mann. They all delivered strong and energetic portrayals. Furthermore, there was plenty of humour in the script very well written by Douglas McGrath.
Summary Of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
In closing, this is a very enjoyable musical with some fantastic performances and an intriguing plot. I would strongly recommend you go and see it for a fabulous night out.
