An Evening of Pure Joy

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

From the very first moments of this incredible production, theatergoers will find themselves falling in love with Carole King. Actually, one of the reasons can be attributed to talented Tiffany Topol’s honest, layered and loving performance. She makes the audience believe that she’s the actual American singer, songwriter and musician, standing before us on the Paramount stage. Within the next two-and-a half hours, the artist shares with the audience all of the highs and lows of Carole King’s life. Because of Ms. Topol’s brilliant performance, along with her 25 gifted cast mates, this production is an evening of pure joy from start to finish!

Telling the story of her early years, and celebrating the brilliant career of legend Carole King, Douglas McGrath’s libretto traces the ups and downs experienced by this humble, gifted artist. While certain scenes in the script feel like they’ve been crafted to simply showcase a particular song, McGrath’s book covers a wealth of biographical material. The musical begins as Ms. King is launching her solo career and then flashes back in time. From a precocious 16-year-old who skipped two grades in high school to study music at local Queens College, to her first published and recorded hit song (“It Might as Well Rain Until September”), we watch a teenage girl grow from a sharp kid into a wise young woman. And always there to offer her opinion and advice, Laura T. Fisher brings humor to her role as Genie Klein, Carol’s ever-controlling mother.

This production is the second of three in Chicagoland and it’s as lush and lovely as anything that Paramount theatergoers have come to expect. Co-directed with brilliance by Johanna McKenzie Miller and Artistic Director Jim Corti, expertly choreographed with a feeling for the era by Kenny Ingram, this is an exquisite, energetic, toe-tapping version of the highly popular 2014 Broadway hit musical. The original New York production earned two Tony Awards and three Drama Desk accolades. The show went on to an Award-winning performance in London’s West End, as well as two excellent US National Tours. There’s even a film version of the musical rumored to be in the works.

The musical takes us through Carole’s whirlwind romance with her first love and longtime collaborator, lyricist Gerry Goffin (excellently played by actor/singer supreme, C.J. Blaine Eldred). As the play journeys to their early marriage and the arrival of their first daughter, we watch Carole developing her talent and learning the tricks for surviving in the music business. Carole also eventually comes to realize that she’s been denying the obvious, all along. Gerry is soon revealed to be manic depressive and his violent, unexpected mood swings, along with a wandering eye for the ladies, lead to a rocky married life. 

Along the way Carole works with Neil Sedaka, develops a close business relationship with rock-and-roll music publisher Donny Kirshner (portrayed by the always terrific Ian Paul Custer), becomes good friends with fellow songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann (the superb casting of both Chicago favorite actor/singer, Rebecca Hurd, and the fantastic vocalist and comedic actor, Christopher Kale Jones). We watch as Ms. King composes hit songs for the Shirelles, the Drifters, Janelle Woods, Little Eva and The Righteous Brothers, among so many others. Although she works tirelessly to make her marriage work, Carole finally comes to realize that her tumultuous relationship with Gerry has turned toxic. In order to find her own voice, she finally leaves him and begins a new life with her two daughters in California. It’s there that Ms. King develops her true sound, while writing and recording the songs for her first album, Tapestry. The musical closes as it opened, with Carole King at the piano, joyfully playing and singing her own “Beautiful” music in concert, at Carnegie Hall.

A large part of the pure joy generated by this musical is the fabulous score. The songs are the soundtrack of many theatergoers’ youth, including my own. Chocked full of hits from the 60’s and early 70’s, the score features such popular songs as “So Far Away,” “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Up on the Roof,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” “One Fine Day,” “Chains,” “On Broadway,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “Uptown,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “(You Make Me Feel) A Natural Woman,” and many others. It’s no wonder the original cast recording won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. 

The entire ensemble of supporting actor/singer/dancers sparkles and glitters, especially as costumed by talented Teresa Ham and complemented by Max Fabian’s period-perfect wigs, hair and makeup. The production is played against Jeffrey D. Kmiec’s stunning and sumptuous, ever-evolving scenic design and brilliantly lit by Greg Hofmann. All the glorious pop music is full of passion and pizzazz, courtesy of Kory Danielson, the production’s masterful Musical Director and Conductor of Paramount’s extraordinary 11-piece pit orchestra.

This magnificent production is quite simply, “Some Kind of Wonderful!” It’s a joyous, magical musical, from beginning to end. Everyone, no matter their age, will leave the theatre singing. In the tradition of so many other superb Paramount productions, the stellar directing team of Johanna McKenzie Miller and Jim Corti have once again crafted an excellent show that brings out the best in each performer. Starring a cast of more than two dozen talented triple-threats, and featuring a score of beloved songs from the past, Paramount Theatre has created an entertaining, much-deserved tribute to one of America’s finest musical artists. Welcome to an evening of pure joy!

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented April 24-June 16 by Paramount Theatre,

23 East Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Paramount Theatre box office, by calling 630-896-6666 or by visiting www.paramountaurora.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.