Cleveland show merges the composer's life story with a parade of beloved hits
CLEVELAND For someone with warm nostalgic memories of Carole King's landmark "Tapestry" album, a fondness for golden oldies of the 1960s and a love of behind-the-scenes showbiz stories, the Broadway musical "Beautiful" offers virtually nonstop pleasure.
The touring production of "Beautiful," running through June 17 at the Connor Palace in Playhouse Square, is snappy, fast-paced and filled with energetic performances of familiar hit songs — including "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "On Broadway," "The Locomotion," "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "One Fine Day," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "You've Got a Friend."
All of these numbers are interspersed into the life story of King, whose career as a successful pop songwriter began long before "Tapestry" hit big in 1971. She was just a teenager when she began scoring big radio hits for a variety of vocal acts with lyricist Gerry Goffin, her big crush who married her after she became pregnant with his baby.
King and Goffin's quick rise to the hit parade is winningly chronicled in the show, which shows the two working on songs at a piano then quickly shifts to costumed and choreographed re-creations of the Drifters, Shirelles and others performing them onstage. At Manhattan's famed Brill Building, the duo befriends a similar songwriting team, Cynthia Weill and Barry Mann, with whom they become playful rivals.
Alas, the King-Goffin team is much better at finding chart success than marital happiness. The turbulent Gerry strays from Carole, who really just wants a quiet life in the suburbs. Ultimately, the marriage falls apart and King reluctantly launches a performing career, leading to the triumphant finale. Despite the storyline's increasing drama, there is much humor and fun along the way.
Yes, "Beautiful" is a wee bit slick, simplified and formulaic at times, as jukebox-style stage musicals tend to be, but the performances by all concerned are committed and engaging, and hearing these many wonderful songs performed with such verve is irresistible. Sarah Bockel, as Carole, effectively portrays the whole gamut of emotions from love-struck teen to heartsick abandoned wife, and she captures King's vocal style to perfection, especially in the the moving "It's Too Late," "Natural Woman" and "You've Got a Friend."
As Gerry, Andrew Brewer is wholly likeable for much of the show and his betrayal of Carole is presented as the result of emotional struggles beyond mere lust. Lending important lightness and comedy are Sarah Goeke (reminiscent of SNL's Kate McKinnon) as Carole's light-hearted confidante Cynthia, and Jacob Heimer as neurotic Barry. James Clow and Suzanne Grooner lend personality and good humor as, respectively, music mogul Don Kirshner and Carole's annoying yet loving mother.
For "Beautiful" performance information and to order tickets, call 216-241-6000 or visit www.playhousesquare.org.