You’ve Got a Friend

Beautiful—The Carole King Musical

The Highland Park Players have once again proven to Chicagoland that they’re much more than simply another community theatre. In this, my fourth visit to one of this company’s professionally produced musicals, I was entranced by the talent and sheer showmanship of their current production. BEAUTIFUL—THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is a treat, from start to finish. The Players’ presentation of this bouncy biopic musical, which is pure theatrical joy, totally draws the audience into its catchy music and captivating story. Under Catherine Davis’ expert direction, this exceptional production is, well, beautiful!

Beginning with the artist’s formative years, BEAUTIFUL celebrates the brilliant career of singer/songwriter and musical legend, Carole King. Douglas McGrath’s libretto depicts the many ups and downs experienced by this modest and gifted artist. From a precocious 16-year-old, who skipped two grades in high school to study music education at local Queens College, to her first published and recorded hit song, “It Might as Well Rain Until September,” we watch a talented young woman grow from a sharp kid into a wonderfully wise woman.

Through her whirlwind romance with first love and longtime collaborator, lyricist Gerry Goffin, to their early marriage and the arrival of their two daughters, Carole King hones her talent and learns all the tricks of the trade for surviving in the music business. Eventually Carole also comes to realize that she’s been denying the obvious, all along. Gerry is revealed to be manic depressive and his violent, unexpected mood swings, along with a continual need for something new and different, coupled with a wandering eye for the ladies, leads to a rocky married life.

Along the way to the top, Carole develops a close business relationship and friendship with music publisher Don Kirshner. She also becomes best friends with fellow songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, while composing hit songs for the Shirelles, the Drifters, Janelle Woods, Little Eva and The Righteous Brothers, among many others. Although she worked tirelessly to make her marriage work, Carole finally comes to the realization that her tumultuous relationship with Gerry has become toxic. In order to find her own voice, Ms. King eventually leaves him and begins a new life in Los Angeles. It’s there that Carole King develops her true sound, while writing and recording the songs for her first album, Tapestry. The musical closes as it began, simply, with Carole King, performing solo on a baby grand at Carnegie Hall, joyfully playing and singing her gorgeous musical monologues of self-discovery.

BEAUTIFUL is under the sharp and skillful direction of Catherine Davis, whose adept work has been enjoyed through over 25 production with the Highland Park Players. What the audience is treated to is a polished, energetic, toe-tapping version of the popular, 2014 Broadway hit. The musical earned three Tony Awards, deservedly winning both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Chicago area phenom, Jesse Mueller, as Best Leading Actress in a Musical. At least two National Tours have visited Chicago, and now the Highland Park Players are presenting their own outstanding version.

Chocked full of songs from the 60’s and early 70’s, the score features such pop hits 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,” “It’s Too Late,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and the joyful, “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Talented Anna Marie Abbate returns to the Highland Park Players in a role that she seems born to play. This lovely musical actress is simply stunning. Ms. Abbate is terrific in capturing Carole King’s subtle nuances, both in her singing, dialogue and mastery of the piano. Her scenes with handsome and charismatic actor/singer Al Katz-Mariani, as Gerry Goffin, are at once romantic, often humorous and eventually dramatic. The always excellent Britain Shutters, whose trained vocals are so smooth and powerful, makes a delightfully droll Cynthia Weil; and Roberto Mata is in fine voice and very funny as hypochondriac composer, and Cynthia’s love interest, Barry Mann. Robin Trevino is funny, fatherly and especially caring as record producer, Don Kirshner; and Kim Buck brings some feisty, well-timed humor to Carole’s meddling mother, Genie Klein.

A particularly gifted musical ensemble sparkles and glitters in this production, both vocally and dramatically. They sound fantastic under Anna Wegener’s professional music direction and look great in Victoria Jablonski’s perfect period costumes and stylish wig and hair designs. Joe Brhel’s versatile scenic design is festooned with records and microphones. The various pianos and various home and office furnishings arrive and depart the stage with ease, thanks to the cast. The show is lit with pop pizzazz by Kurt Ottinger, and talented choreographer Annie Snow keeps the show in continual motion with her exciting, 1960’s-style dance moves.

Celebrating an amazing 39 years of excellence, Highland Park Players’ new production is an enjoyable and jubilant biographical musical from start to finish. No one will leave the theatre wishing for more because this talented company leaves it all on the stage. This deceptively challenging, proudly presented production of BEAUTIFUL—THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL features a large cast of the very best actor/singer/dancers in the Chicagoland area. Catherine Davis’ expert guidance and staging, along with Anna Wegener’s brilliant musical direction, and her talented onstage orchestra, as well as Annie Snow’s sparkling choreography, are a summertime gift to the audience.

The award-winning musical features an array of gorgeous, beloved pop and rock songs that are a BEAUTIFUL blast from the past. And the entire talented company creates an exciting, well-performed tribute to the great Carole King. This is a production that reminds theatergoers that, through America’s many talented musical artists and their great music, “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented July 17-26 by the Highland Park Players at the McGrath Performing Arts Center, 3461 Illinois Rd.,
Wilmette, IL.

Tickets are available at the door or by going to www.highlandparkplayers.org.

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

Photos from the Highland Park Players