Reviewed by Mark Johnson at The Little Theatre in Leicester
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
The Tony and Olivier award-winning musical, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, based on the singer and songwriter's life has delighted audiences internationally. Now Knighton Park Amateur Operatic Society stage a charming production of the show.
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| Natasha Carr as Carole King. Photo by Poyner and Mee |
The biographical jukebox musical that charts the rise of Carole King from an ordinary 16-year-old girl through heartbreak to a legend of the music business that she remains to this day. Jukebox musicals can sometimes suffer where they try and fit in the musical numbers with the plot but with Beautiful, these numbers are central to everything that happens. As the songs are created it allows the audience to delve right into Carole's mind and feelings.
With Carole King's back catalogue, the show is gifted with a sublime soundtrack of songs. Songs including 'One Fine Day', 'The Locomotion', 'You've Got A Friend' and '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman'. An 11 piece orchestra under the musical direction of Reece Crane create a brilliant sound bringing to life the music with real skill. It's really impressive to see such a large orchestra which are situated on stage behind a semi-see through curtain.
Natasha Carr gives a superb performance as Carole. She does a great job as she blossoms and flourishes as the role develops. By the time you get to the act one closer of 'One Fine Day' Carr's vocal pack a confident punch showing the growth in the character. It's clearly a role that has a connection for Carr as expressed in her programme notes and it's a performance to be proud of.
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| Nick Wilkins (centre) as Gerry Goffin and the ensemble. Photo by Poyner and Mee. |
Nick Wilkins impresses as Gerry Goffin, partner of Carole who longs for more and becomes unfaithful. Wilkins rides the rollercoaster of emotions well and believably conveys the characters breakdown in the second act. Wilkins vocals are excellent throughout.
On the flip side to Carole and Gerry's tulmutuous relationship you have another songwriting duo in Cara Gibson as Cynthia Weil and Alex Thompson as Barry Mann. Whilst they go through their own challenges they have a nice lightness to them. The duo both have good vocals, a lovely connection and are always a good presence to watch.
It's always great to see local favourite David Lovell on the stage and here he plays music producer Donnie Kirshner whilst Charlotte Beaver gives a sweet turn as Carole's mother, Genie.
A diverse ensemble of 20 play a variety of roles throughout. There is some fine work done in creating roles big or small. However, not everything is pitch perfect in terms of vocals and the early 1650 Broadway Medley is particularly shrill as an everyone sings over each other and creates a rather unbalanced sound. Lewis Shaw alongside Andrew Bond, Shay Kubavat and Ray Samuel McLeod as The Drifters are a crowd pleasuring quartet whilst Matt Barton-Ashcroft and Vaughan Barton-Ashcroft give a strong yet brief cameo as The Righteous Brothers singing 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling'. Adele Watts, Jade Afflick-Goodall, Francescia Benjamin and Carissma Griffiths do justice to the The Shirelles.
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| Jade Afflick-Goodall and the company. Photo by Poyner and Mee |
Afflick-Goodall stages strong choreography which well performed. It's at its finest during songs like 'The Locomotion' as the ensemble bring to life the motion of trains and carriages.
Director Joshua Taylor-Williams keeps things moving with a good pace. The staging is fairly basic but it is effective. Props are used to establish scenes as well as signs at the back of the stage which locate where the scenes are taking place. There is very little to establish the time frame of the sequences, with quite a few jumps between sequences. Andy Crooks provides bright lighting and Tom Brooks clear sound.
Whatever your knowledge of Carole King before the show you leave the theatre with a bit more knowledge of her career. The music is undoubtedly a star, but the impressive 4 leading performances help illuminate the piece further. It's one fine evening with a solid production.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical plays at The Little Theatre in Leicester until Saturday 23rd November 2024. Tickets are available from https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/
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| Cara Gibson as Cynthia Weil and Alex Thompson as Barry Mann. Photo by Poyner and Mee. |
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