Beautiful The Carole King Musical UK Tour Review: As one would hope, an extravaganza of Carole King.
Beautiful The Carole King Musical UK Tour Review by Katey Thompson.
Beautiful The Carole King Musical UK Tour review
Beautiful, The Carole King Musical sets out to tell the tale of Carole King’s story from selling her first song to releasing her first album Tapestry. For lovers of Carole King’s music, this is not to be missed.
Gerry Goffin is played with some conviction by Kane Oliver Parry, his weakness of character tugged at Carole’s sympathetic nature, who is successfully portrayed by Bronte Barbe. The production highlights the contrast between the two couples, with Carole and Gerry being a great foil for Cynthia Weil (Amy Ellen Richardson) and Barry Mann (Matthew Gonsalves) who were the competitors for the song that would reach number one.
Related: Kinky Boots The Musical (West End) review
It a well performed and portrayed musical, only limited by the constraints of the staging, as the orchestra and the performers were fantastic. The breadth of Carole’s talent was highlighted by the number of songs written for other artists, including the Everley Brothers, Bobby Vee, The Sharelles and the Monkees. The comic portrayal by Khalid Daley, Simeon Montague, Matthew Elliot-Campbell and Matt Mills as the Drifters was brilliant and confirmed the rise of Carole’s and Gerrys success as songwriters.
Ticket details: Beautiful, The Carole King Musical official website
This production chronicles, slightly formulaically, the songwriting process between Gerry Goffin and Carole King which finally results in the writing of her timeless album, Tapestry (the longest album at number one by a female for 20 years). Each song was treated to a note-perfect reproduction of the originals perhaps the only missing hit was the song Tapestry itself.
However, by focusing on the songs alone the production perhaps disappointingly did not take the opportunity to reflect on the emotional turmoil and highs and lows of her rollercoaster life. Still, Beautiful, The Carole King Musical is an absolute must for fans of the artist and music in general.
Beautiful The Carole King Musical UK Tour review by Katey Thompson, February 2018.
Beautiful, The Carole King Musical is running at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking until 3rd March 2018.
