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| James Clow as Don with Jacob Heimer as Barry, Sarah Bockel as Carole and Sarah Goeke as Cynthia. (Matthew Murphy photo) |
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
focuses on the early life and career of the popular singer-songwriter.
It began at the Curran Theatre in San
Francisco in 2013 and opened on Broadway in 2014, followed by a national tour
in 2015. It has landed in San Jose, where it’s playing to enthusiastic
audiences.
King is best remembered for not only the
songs she wrote and sang herself but for those she wrote for others.
The show opens in Brooklyn in 1958, when
Carole (Sarah Bockel) was 16 and sold her first song, “It Might As Well Rain
Until September,” to Don Kirshner (James Clow), who became her publisher and
mentor for many years until she moved to Los Angeles.
Much of the book by Douglas McGrath
focuses on her relationship with Gerry Goffin (Matt Faucher), who became her
lyricist and husband. Their marriage broke up because of his infidelity and
mental instability.
Also featured are another songwriting
pair, Cynthia Weil (Aashley Morgan in most performances), and Barry Mann (Jacob
Heimer), who became good friends with Carole and Gerry.
With 25 songs, the show is a parade of
’60s and ’70s hits by King and Goffin and by Weil and Mann.
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| The ensemble dances to "Loco-Motion." (Matthew Murphy photo) |
Just a few include “Take Good Care of My
Baby,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Up on the Roof,” “The Loco-motion,”
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “It’s Too Late,” “You’ve Got a Friend,”
“Natural Woman” and “Beautiful.”
They’re performed by the creators as
well as the Drifters, the Shirelles the Righteous Brothers and others. All are
in fine voice, and most are precisely choreographed by Josh Prince.
Directed by Marc Bruni, the show features
outstanding performances by everyone. Besides the principals, another bright
spot is Carole’s mother, Genie Klein, played with great comic timing by Suzanne
Grodner.
Running about two and a half hours with
one intermission, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” is a musical and visual
feast.
It continues at San Jose Center for the Performing
Arts, 255 S. Almaden Blvd., San Jose, for an all-too-short run that ends Nov.
19. For tickets and information, call (800) 982-2787 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
