A biography of the legacy herself.
The extraordinary journey of Carole King’s songwriting legacy is celebrated within this Tony
and Grammy Award-winning musical performance, tracing the path from teenage songwriter to
timeless chart topping legend. Directed by Kathy Petrakis and choreographed by Ali Bendall,
this performance is brought to life by a vibrant cast of 30 performers with nuance, artistry, and
cheer to the stage.
Carole (Rachel Amanda Thomas), a shy but aspiring songwriter, heads to Manhattan at 16
years old to pitch her first song to Don Kirshner (Paul Adderley), which is met with success.
Soon after, she meets lyricist Gerry Goffin (Craig Nudelman), of whom she forms a romantic and
professional relationship. Together, they craft numerous chart toppers for artists like “Will You
Love Me Tomorrow” and “The Loco-Motion”, whilst navigating the complications of marriage,
parenthood, and rivalling for the next big hit against Cynthia Weil (Lucy Giles) and Barry Mann
(Luke Derrick). In the deterioration of her marriage, Carole decides to step into the spotlight as a
solo performer and puts herself first, redefining her legacy.
Exceptional performances are delivered throughout, with Thomas gracefully evolving from timid
and reserved to bold and confident as the production unfolded. The ensemble brings impressive
cohesion to both vocals and choreography, with bright, colourful, and dazzling costume choices.
Although the ensemble occasionally drifted from perfect unison, it only made the experience
more memorable, highlighting their individualities, which was complimented by the majority
having some form of lead part in the songs throughout.
The production was orchestrated perfectly; in moments where the stage was left nearly bare, its
simplicity heightened the tension and urgency between the main characters. Comparatively,
ensemble-filled scenes gave bursts of energy that seamlessly blended with the narrative’s
rhythm.
The thoughtful lighting choices gave depth, particularly when the spotlight settled on
Thomas. Every emotion was captured – tears, pain, struggle and delight. While the wigs could
have been better, Thomas’ transition from straight and sleek hair to untamed curls perfectly
symbolised her shift to personal liberation and self-assurance.
Petrakis delivers brilliantly, with an emotional but largely happy portrayal of Carole King’s journey – it was difficult not to smile throughout. Although the production went well over the finish time (25 minutes), it was worth the missed bus. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a must-see.
