I’d like to bet that somewhere in your collection of music you have a song (or many) which has been touched by the amazing talent that is Carole King. It could be one of her many solo songs, in particular the classic ‘Tapestry‘ album, or the countless hits she penned with her first husband Gerry Goffin.

Now the answer is likely to be that you simply don’y know, a good song is a good song, and that’s all that matters after all. But come along to BEAUTIFUL-THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, which is at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week, and you’ll be amazed at just how many classics, that you absolutely love, which Carole has written.

First of all, that’s the real joy of this show, and believe me it is a joyous thing. You are given two hours of songs which make you smile, sing, and occasionally pull on your heartstrings. Carole has the ability to touch all of our emotions through her music, whether we just want to let go and have fun, or need a go to song to get us through the toughest moments of heartbreak.

It’s been a while since Beautiful was in South Wales but this multi-award winning show, directed by NIKOLAI FOSTER and co-produced with Theatre Royal Bath and Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre, is welcome here anytime.

Molly-Grace Cutler (Carole King)

I do have comparison with the last tour and while all the elements remain the same, this production felt a little more fluid. You spend most of the time in a recording studio with all the story either unfolding around it or indeed happening in the studio itself.

It was a little less glitz and glam than the previous productions, but I think works all the better for it. The fact the cast play the instruments is also pretty impressive but makes the show feel real.

Beautiful is both moving and inspiring and takes us on a 21 year journey through the early part of Carol’s life. Incredibly, she made it into the music business when she was aged 16, this is in the late 1950s. I obviously wasn’t around then but the show gives a flavour of what it must have been like in those days. Songwriters worked in offices, creatives need to create to order, it was a bit like a hit factory. Move over Stock, Aitken Waterman, Carole King was here first.

The story begins at her famous Carnagie Hall concert which came on the back of the huge success of Tapestry. We then backtrack on a journey which takes us from a 16 year old Carole, right on forward to that concert once again.

So, what did the opening night audience think of the show and this revamped production?

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (AUDIENCE REVIEW)

These Jukebox Musicals as we know them, are usually a big hit with the audiences, and Beautiful is no exception. Where this differs however, is that each song gives an insight into Carole’s life and how she was feeling emotionally. She clearly found comfort in directing her feelings onto a song sheet and then into a sure-fire hit, after hit, after hit.

Carole is a difficult character to play as we start with her young life as a teenage girl, then watch her grow into a wife and mother and all the emotional strain her difficult marriage to Gerry Goffin brought.

In MOLLY-GRACE CUTLER, who plays Carole, there is something very special. She can sing, act and plays the piano and guitar brilliantly. She takes us from young girl, to emotionally scarred woman superbly and when she sings – actually, more like lives ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman‘ you are completely invested in her emotionally.

It’s a musical, so of course the songs are always centre stage, but this is also a real life story, and one filled with happy and sad, success and troubles. These are highlighted in her marriage to Gerry (TOM MILNER) who fans of Waterloo Road may remember was series regular Paul Langley.

Tom is a particularly good Gerry, although liking him as a character is sometimes difficult. At one point I really thought he was about to get booed, which is a great sign as to how caught up in the story the audience were.

Molly-Grace Cutler (Carole King) and Tom Milner (Gerry Goffin)

He and Carole met at college, they fell in love, got married, had a baby and also managed to deliver some first class songs for the likes of The Drifters, The Shirelles and Aretha Franklin. But as with any job in life, if you do it with your romantic partner, it’s likely to put an added strain on the relationship, and that was certainly the case for Carole and Gerry.

As they were putting pen to paper on classic hits such as ‘Up On the Roof‘ and ‘The Loco-Motion‘, Gerry was regularly dipping his pen into other ink bottles and the resulting tension pretty much tipped Carole over the edge.

Don’t for one minute think this is all relationship doom and gloom. The show is clever and funny, particularly with the pairing of another songwriting duo, Cynthia Weil (SEREN SANDHAM-DAVIES) and Barry Mann (JOS SLOVICK). Their relationship brings a welcome lightness to the story, but also another raft of incredible songs.

Well & Mann are like another jukebox musical all on their own, with hits such as – ‘On Broadway‘ and the brilliantly performed ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin‘ by DAN-DE-CRUZ and PETER MOONEY as the Righteous Brothers. Incidentally, Dan is also the on stage Musical Director.

There are some nice little touches, which could pass you by. I loved the Neil Sedaka moment in the show when he gets to performs one of his big hits – ‘Oh Carol‘, who could that be about I wonder? Oh yes, Dan also plays the part of Neil.

At times you feel like you’re back in the late 50s and 60s. reliving some of those great groups, dance routines and costumes, with a shout out to costume designer EDD LINDLEY for some great outfits which really capture the essence of the era.

We get all the greats at some point during the show: The Drifters, The Shirelles, and even Little Eva performing ‘The Locomotion‘. Listen carefully to learn how she was discovered.

Having seen this show a few years ago, I had a feeling for what was coming where and when. It’s great watching the audience light up after a few beats of a song when they work out what it is. Jukebox musicals are easy to love, but with such a gripping story, about a life at times so troubled, it took this production to the next level.

No one would want to suffer what Carole did with her first marriage, but you can’t help but wonder if that difficult time in her life ended up with material and performances which have helped us all through some trying times. I think they did, and would hope Carole herself realises that her music has touched so many people, through so many situations, both good and bad.

The entire cast give great performances, whether in a group, duo or solo, but I have to come back to Molly-Grace and applaud this superb musical theatre, Olivier award winning star. She set the stage alight and will continue to do so for years to come, of that there is no doubt.

The cast of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

If you’re a fan of her music you will love this show, if you don’t think you are, get yourself a ticket, make it along to the New Theatre, and let them prove you wrong. You are definitely a fan of her songs, you just may not know it yet.

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is one show you don’t want to miss. It’s here till Saturday with performances at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tickets start at £23.50 with a range of prices and concessions. You can get them and more details right HERE.

And you can see our original feature and interview with some of the cast HERE.