Posts with the label carole king
Showing posts with label carole king. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carole king. Show all posts
Friday 21 February 2020
Laura Baldwin on The Importance of Female Led Musicals | Beautiful: The Carole King Musical | Interview
A jukebox musical with a book by Douglas McGrath, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical tells the story of the life and career of Carole King, using the songs she wrote as well as others by people she knew or were influential in her life.
Taking on the role of one of these, is Laura Baldwin who plays Cynthia Weil, King's best friend and writing rival. Having previously starred in Waitress, Laura is no stranger to female led stories, she sat down to tell us why these stories are so important and what people can expect from this musical...
Give us the lowdown on Beautiful, what can we expect?
Well you can expect a story of what went on behind the music surrounding the life of Carole King, told by an AMAZING cast. You’ll hear incredibly nostalgic songs and hopefully you’ll leave feeling elated, inspired and a little bit warm inside.
Whats your favourite song from Beautiful and why?
God that is SO hard! The Locomotion is definitely up there but it has to be Walking in The Rain. It’s just such a stunning song and it feels so lovely to sing.
You’re playing Cynthia Weil, what do you draw from in your own life and what research do you do to play a real person?
So Cynthia Weil is the first character I’ve played that I don’t feel anything alike. I couldn’t find any similarities for a while so that was a new challenge for me. It did however feel really refreshing to become someone completely different and, play parts of her that don’t come naturally to me. Now we’re well into the run I do see myself in her, like I love making people laugh, so does she! We’re both very ambitious and love our work. It was great to finally identify with her in some way.
I researched lots about Cynthia! I watched so many interviews and we talked extensively with Ed Goggin our director, all about the characters lives and motives throughout the show. I wanted to make sure I do her justice!! Hopefully I’m doing enough!
You previously starred in Waitress, another musical about female empowerment, what do you think makes these musicals so important and special?
Because we need women to be seen as the hero’s that they are and have always been! Waitress was a human story and Beautiful is a real life story, both with an underdog message. The characters find strength from within and that is always incredibly special to watch. Sara Bareilles is a power house as is Carole King. Their stories and music should be heard simply because of the talent behind them. I am honoured to be a small part of their work and portray the characters that are so dear to them, and inspiring to women and to everyone.
If a musical was going to be made about your life, who would you like to play you?
Oh Amy Adam’s or Kristen Wig just because I love them!!
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring performers?
Keep the gorgeous people around you who lift you up! ALWAYS treat yourself after an audition. You will constantly struggle to balance everything and things will get hard but that’s okay. There will be highs and lows but the lows make it worth it. Stay humble, find ways to reconnect with yourself, book the holiday and know that your career doesn’t define you. I also feel like being yourself is HUGE and the moment I started accepting my weird crazy self, everything started to fall into place :) stay strong! x
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical plays at the New Victoria Theatre until 22nd February before continuing its tour
Interview by Editor, Olivia Mitchell
photo credit: Helen Maybanks
Wednesday 19 February 2020
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 18th February 2020 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★
Beautiful opens with music icon, Carole King sitting alone on stage at a piano, singing to a sold out audience at Carnegie Hall. In an instant the piano moves out of view and we are taken to a Brooklyn apartment where a 16 year old Carole, with songs sing sell and dreams to dream, arrives on stage.
It's from here that we follow King through the trials and tribulations of her life from the vivacious teen, to young mother, wife, divorcee and eventually solo Grammy Award winner. From the outset Daisy Wood-Davis is engaging and endearing; giving a performance as Carole which certainly blooms throughout the musical and ends on a high. Her unique Brooklyn accent is strong, and whilst her performance is not always completely convincing, Wood-Davis does a solid job at bringing the legend to life.
What's impressive about this musical is how cleverly the scenes transition from the song-writing to the actual performances. The famous artists appear to perform the songs as the final lyrics and chords are written and highlight just how fast the music world moves. At times, some of the ensemble are a little lacklustre in their performances, but it's still nice to get a chance to hear the music of The Shirelles and The Drifters.
Aside from the music, the show mainly focusses on the relationship between Carole and her husband/lyricist Gerry Goffin. Played by Adam Gillan, Gerry is equal parts endearing, fragile and gushy. His vocals are strong and the chemistry between the pair, especially in the young love phase at the start, is very enjoyable to watch. We also see writing rivals/best friends Cynthia Weil (Laura Baldwin) and Barry Mann (Cameron Sharp) who want to succeed in all aspects of their lives. The pair give great vocal performances and bounce off one another well.
Many aspects come together to make this such a wholesome and enjoyable musical, including the excellent set design by Derek McLane which seamlessly transforms the stage and provides a welcoming backdrop for every moment. Alejo Vietti's costumes are also highly detailed and it's great to see how fashions changed as well as the music. Also, giving standout performances are Susie Fenwick as Carole's witty New York mother; Jordan Fox who shines in his vocal moments and Carly Cook who draws the eye throughout and gives an excellently polished performance all round.
A sentimental musical which captures all generations and celebrates the talent and drive of Carole King, and showcases the music industry Beautiful is certainly worth the watch.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical plays at the New Victoria Theatre until 22 February and then continues its tour
photo credit: Helen Maybanks
photo credit: Helen Maybanks
Thursday 10 May 2018
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour), New Theatre Oxford | Review
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour)
New Theatre Oxford
Reviewed on Tuesday 8th May 2018 by Nick Fisher
★★★★
Carole King rightly occupies a place in the pantheon of great American songwriters and this lively production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, is a fitting tribute to her musical legacy.
The performance begins with King, propelled to stardom by her solo album ‘Tapestry’, sitting at her piano in Carnegie Hall. All too quickly, we are taken back to her teenage years, living with Mum in a Manhattan apartment striving to become a songwriter. She is revealed as a slightly awkward yet determined teenager who meets her future writing partner and husband, Gerry Goffin, when studying education at college. After she becomes pregnant, the pair marry and embark on their career as hit-makers for Don Kirsher known as the ‘man with the golden ear’ who made stars of King, Neil Diamond and Neil Sedaka amongst others.
We are taken at a rapid clip through some classics including, ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ originally performed by the Drifters, ‘Will you Love Me Tomorrow’ by the Shirelles and ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling by Barry Mann and the Righteous Brothers. The show portrays vividly the look and feel of Kirshner’s song-writing factory, a rabbit warren of cubicles inhabited by young writers, desperate to write hits for the Billboard 100. At the factory, the pair meet friends and competitors, lyricist Cynthia Weil and composer Barry Mann. The witty and smart Weil and the comic, charming Mann, provide a light-hearted secondary duo who are destined to live happily ever after. Indeed, the pair have been married since 1961 which is in sharp contrast to King and Goffin who both remarried 3 times following their divorce. In fact, it is during this intensely productive period at the factory when the first cracks appear in their relationship. Goffin’s desire to stay out every night to immerse himself in the music scene conflicts with King’s desire for domesticity coupled with an intense desire to make it as a songwriter.
In Act 2, we are taken, albeit it at a slightly slower pace, from 1962, with ‘Chains’ initially released by the Cookies and in 1963, covered by the Beatles. We are then treated to some classics, ‘Walking in the Rain’, and ‘It’s Too Late’, culminating in a wonderful rendition of ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman’ originally recorded one year before her divorce from Goffin in 1968. The final scene takes us back to the Carnegie Hall show in 1971, the year when King released her seminal solo album, Tapestry, one of the best-selling albums of all time. It is at this point when Goffin makes a final appearance. The pair had lost contact since King’s move to Los Angeles in 1968 and Goffin takes the opportunity to express his appreciation of how much she had achieved in her career. It doesn’t matter if this actually happened, it portrays a deep love and respect for the woman and the writer. In any case, in a statement following his death in 2014, King described Goffin as her ‘first love’ and how he had a ‘profound impact’ on her life.
Overall, this is a rip-roaring musical roller coaster ride. The quality of the music, led by Musical Director Patrick Hurley, really cannot be faulted, from the tight harmonies and wonderful choreography in Act 1 to the evocative songs in Act 2. This is not a history lesson in any sense even though this is a period rich in social and political change including the racial integration of the University of Alabama in 1963 and the height of the Vietnam War in the early 70s. Was King affected by these momentous events and did it affect her music? Almost certainly, but at the end of the day it was Goffin’s lyrics which serve as a narrative for the time.
This brings us to the performances. Bronté Barbé is superb as Carole King. Her voice is captivating and her performance of Natural Woman was incredibly moving and captured perfectly a tumultuous stage in King’s marriage to Goffin. Playing Goffin was Kane Oliver Parry who had a palpable chemistry with Barbé. Nevertheless, his Brooklyn accent was unconvincing and needs more work.
Almost eclipsing Barbé was Amy Ellen Richardson as Cynthia Weil. She brought maturity and depth to the role including stand-out performances in ‘Walking in the Rain’ and ‘He’s sure the Boy I Love’. Her partner, Barry Mann was sensitively played by Matthew Gonsalves and he introduced some moments of real humour.
Carole King will always be a shining star of world music. She has written or co-written over 400 songs recorded by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, Diana Ross and the Beatles. She has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recorded 25 solo albums, the second of which, ‘Tapestry’ remained at the top of the Billboard 100 for a record-breaking 15 weeks. Come to this performance, stick some dimes into the jukebox and join the baby boomers dancing in the aisles in celebration of a cultural icon.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is at the New Theatre Oxford until 11th May 2018
Wednesday 28 February 2018
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour), New Victoria Theatre | Review
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour)
New Victoria Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 27th February 2018 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★★★
The New Victoria theatre was a buzz last night as an excited audience took their seats to take a trip down memory lane with the sentimental songs of the 60s. I must admit when I sat down I wasn't really a Carole King fan having never really been exposed to her music, but two and a bit hours later I was well and truly a lover of all things Carole and have been playing Tapestry on repeat all morning.
Beautiful opens with King (played expertly by Bronté Barbé) sitting alone on stage behind a piano and singing her heart out to a packed audience at Carnegie Hall. Suddenly the piano moves out of view and we are thrown into a Brooklyn apartment where a 16 year old Carole with big dreams and songs to sell arrives on stage.
From here we follow Carole through the ups and downs of her life from the energetic teen to mother, wife, divorcee and Grammy award winner. From the opening scene to the very end, Bronté's Carole is endearing, humourous and engaged with the audience. Her incredible voice, acting and spot on accent hold the show up and our hearts really ache whenever Carole experiences a set back.
The show mainly focuses on the relationship between Carole and her husband/lyricist, Gerry Goffin. Played by Kane Oliver Parry, the character is raw and passionate and the chemistry between the pair is compelling to watch. Alongside we see their best friends and writing rivals, Cynthia Weil (Amy Ellen Richardson) and Barry Mann (Matthew Gonsalves) who are comedic as well as being fantastic singers. The rendition of their hit 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling' was a standout as well as a clear audience favourite.
Beautiful cleverly transitions from the song-writing to the actual performance with the artists appearing to perform the songs as soon as the final chords and lyrics were written. These moments were humourous as well as being genuinely good and allowed the audience to revel in the delightful music by the likes of The Drifters and The Shirelles.
This production is indeed Beautiful and the perfectly moving, magical, sentimental way to spend a few hours. Myself, my mum and those around us found ourselves smiling throughout, just proving that this show has what it takes to enrapture audiences of all generations. The talent of Carole King is undeniable and I can't help but think that no 2000s artist will stand the test of time to have a musical made about them in the future! Whether you think you're a fan of Carole or not, you're sure to recognise many of the hits and leave feeling elated, with a new sense of love and appreciation for the songwriting industry.
Beautiful runs at the New Victoria Theatre until March 3rd before continuing it's tour.
Wednesday 29 November 2017
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour), Edinburgh Playhouse | Review
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (UK Tour)
Edinburgh Playhouse
Reviewed on Tuesday 28th November 2017 by Liv Ancell
★★★★★
Wasting no time in getting started, the Carole King musical opened with the protagonist (played by the talented Bronté Barbé) sitting behind a grand piano at the Carnegie Hall concert, a highlight of King’s solo singing career. During these first few moments of the show we see Carole at her pinnacle – a headline concert.
Some world-class singing, along with a quick comical address to the audience, and whoosh! The piano glides to the back of the stage, while the forefront is seamlessly transformed into a mid-century apartment in Brooklyn. In an astonishing demonstration of hurried backstage dressing, Carole emerges just moments later, transformed into the gawky 16-year old college student with big ambitions.
And so the show really begins, as we follow the peppy and promising teenager from the very beginnings of her musical ambitions. Throughout the show, we are to see several more versions of Carole. From naïve teenager to career-woman, mother, divorcée and reborn singer – Bronté’s unwavering Brooklyn accent and incredible acting talent carried the audience right the way through the character’s incredible journey.
From joy to dejection, every facet of emotion was expertly communicated by this veritable stage star; from gestures to posture and tone, the calibre of acting on show made the audience really get behind the character. When Carole suffered a set-back, the audience collectively mourned for her. When Carole rejoiced, the audience rejoiced. The connection between Bronté and the audience was pure and deep, emphasising the quality of talent possessed by the actress.
My favourite aspect of the show was the flashy transitions between song-writing and performance. Carole and her husband Gerry Goffin, who was her partner in a work sense, too had a believable on-stage chemistry. The very moment that our ingénues completed the writing of each song (her the melodies and him the words), the chosen artists suddenly appeared to perform Carole and Gerry’s works. These quick ‘cut-betweens’ intersected the story, providing moments of sheer joy, and often comedy, as the audience enjoyed upbeat, all-dancing, all-singing renditions by the likes of The Shirelles and The Drifters.
Carole and Jerry’s counterparts, songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Well – who were great friends of Carole and Jerry – are the subjects of a sideline love story. The ambitious go-getter Cynthia and hypochondriac musician Barry provide many moments of comedy, and are instantly likeable.
As Carole strikes out on her own in Act 2, the audience see even more of the endless talent possessed by this legendary artist. More confident, less naïve and wiser, the character doesn’t hold back and the real potential of her talent is unlocked. This show is a beautiful journey of talent and dreams, a journey who’s ending would not seem quite so special if the moments of sadness and despair had not appeared along the way.
A packed Edinburgh Playhouse rose to their feet to toast the young talents of the show. The main characters and the ensemble really seemed to understand the complexities of the relationships and the time period which the show spanned. The execution of this show was flawless; from staging to lighting, to the script and the arrangements.
I whole-heartedly recommend this show to anybody – even if the name Carole King is unknown to you prior to seeing the show, I can guarantee hits such as the Locomotion and Will You Love Me Tomorrow will jog your memory and give you a new found sense of appreciation of this song writing and singing legend.
Thursday 28 September 2017
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Lyric Theatre | Review
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Lyric Theatre, Sydney
Reviewed on Wednesday 20th September 2017 by Amy and Vic
★★★★★
The night started with two twenty something girls who had no clue who Carole King was (don't judge us!) and ended up with two brand new super fans, striding out of the theatre arm in arm, belting 'You've Got a Friend' and wistfully longing we could transport back to 1960s Brooklyn.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a Grammy winning musical which debuted in Sydney, Australia this week with a local cast after first dazzling Broadway in 2014. The show is a musical biography based on the early life of Carole King, whose music has been referred to as “the soundtrack of a generation” – admittedly not our generation but boy do we wish it was!
Pyrmont's Lyric Theatre in Sydney was buzzing with Carole King devotees young and old, excited to take a trip down memory lane in joyous celebration of one of the world's greatest songwriters. It made the evening all the more sentimental, imagining our parents hippy clapping away, bellbottoms swinging to ‘Locomotion'.
From the opening scene and throughout, Esther Hannaford's Carole was an incredibly loveable and endearing character who engaged the audience with her humility, kindness and gentle humour. Despite her immense success and undeniable creative genius, Carole's personal life was tumultuous and peppered with periods of romance and heartache. The tapestry of classic pop and rock and roll music was powerfully nostalgic, and there was a sense of magic in watching the song writing process and hearing the contrast between the writers demos and popular pop reinventions (including, The Shirelles, The Drifters, The Righteous Brothers and Neil Sedaka).
Beautiful predominantly focusses on the relationship between Carole and her first husband, Gerry Goffin, famed lyricist and long-time collaborator. Josh Piterman provided a compelling portrayal of Gerry’s raw strife and passion and there was a genuine chemistry between our leading couple. The relationship between Carole and Gerry and their friendly rivals, fellow singer/songwriter duo Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann provided some belly laugh moments and showcased some of their own classic hits including “You’ve Lost That l Lovin’ Feeling” and “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”.
The entire production was beautifully staged and the cast were uniformly superb. Beautiful was a magical, moving, musical feat and the perfect night to delight across the generations. We couldn’t have told you who Carole King was before this show, turns out we’ve been a fan of her work for years - Oh! Carol, we love you.
The musical will run until December 23rd 2017
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