The Drifters! The Shirelles! Neil Sedaka! The Righteous Brothers and Carole King!
The singers who croon their tunes at Olney Theatre Center (not so far away) make them some kind of wonderful in “Beautiful,” the jukebox story of singer-songwriter Carole King.
The singers almost steal the show with be-bop-a-lula and that’s what they do!
Carole King fans will relish the moments’ pleasures with 25 plus songs to accompany the chronicle of one of the most popular singer-songwriters of our time.
The crowd roared when the “Drifters” came on stage in sparkling jackets, ties, shoes and synchronized dance steps (with choreography by Ashleigh King) backed by a floor-to-ceiling shimmering curtain with changing colors.
And Neil Sedaka! Neil Sedaka! (His name bears repeating.)
Connor James Reilly does a fabulous rendition with Sedaka’s “Oh Carol,” he was such a fool in his fancy pants and moves.
In another memorable role, Reilly joins Kurt Boehm as the unforgettable Righteous Brothers who sing “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” while descending twin curving staircases, and upon reaching the stage, ripping off their jackets simultaneously in strip tease style to expose their abs to the howls of the audience.
(Thank you very much, director Amy Anders Corcoran, making her Olney debut. More! More! More!)
Enthusiastic Natalie Weiss with a magnificent voice to mirror King’s is the star, easily carries the show, the “natural woman” for the role.
Michael Perrie, Jr. is Gerry Goffin, King’s boyfriend, then husband, then cheatin’ husband, who gradually engenders audience dislike, though the couple really did try to make it.
Long before their split and even afterwards, the couple formed a hugely successful collaboration to produce many notable songs, lyrics about their relationship often found in their pieces.
Nikki Mirza and Calvin McCullough play longtime good friends and competitors Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann who turn out million dollar hits, too, and are important to the story, especially for fleshing out humor and creating magic in the air. The words and music in “Beautiful” belong to this quartet.
Victoria Gomez is a likable BGF “Betty” and Donna Migliaccio is King’s very realistic mom who delivers hilarious zingers just like a mother with good intentions which sometimes backfire.
An almost constant stage presence is Bobby Smith as music producer and manager Don Kirshner, often silent but twisting and turning into a pretzel, slapping his head and wrestling his arms in brilliant poses as he debates “to do or not to do?”
His able-bodied assistant who triples as a member of the Shirelles and of other groups is Kayla Gross. She is joined by Kalen Robinson, the production’s dance captain, another Shirelle and, in another role, just another woman for Goffin.
Other cast members are Jay Frisby, Ian Anthony Coleman, Quadry Brown, Ariana Caldwell, Montel B. Butler, Lily Burka and Simone Brown.
Costume designer Kendra Rai dresses the characters in the styles of the era, but the singers’ shining apparel are the visuals which light up the stage.
Douglas McGrath wrote the book.
Christopher Youstra directs a 10-piece band whose hidden presence belies their criticality to the production.
Other creative team members are Deb Sivigny, set; Colin K. Bills, lighting; Matthew Rose, sound; Ben Walsh, resident stage manager; Allison Bailey, assistant stage manager; Sarah Hinrichsen, assistant director and Larry Peterson and Alia Radabaugh, wig co-designers whose heads were full.
“Beautiful” ran in neon lights on Broadway for more than five years and won two Tonys in 2014, and the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2015. To see it is to know why.
The show runs through August 25, 2024 on Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm. with the exception of Thursday, July 25 when there will be no evening performance but on Sunday, August 4 there will be one at 7 p.m. Matinees on some fine days will be at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, all at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.
Tickets start at $31, and are available at olneytheatre.org and 301-924-3400.
Carole King is now 82, an environmentalist who lives in Idaho, who has written 118 songs which made it to Billboard’s “Hot 100” list.
Artistic director Jason Loewith writes in program notes that the Olney is celebrating the power of women all year long with its show selections and “Beautiful” kicks off the theme.
When this old world starts getting you down, come on out to Olney town where there’s a play that’s trouble-free. Just sayin’! Or singin’!
