BEAUTIFUL Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 11:19am

Post 'em here!

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 6:20pm

The Hollywood Report: http://j.mp/1cYsPj6

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 6:41pm

Wow! Very positive. I hope the rest of tonight's reviews follow suit.

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 6:49pm

AMNY 3.5 stars

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/theater-review-beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-3-5-stars-1.6783561

[BS]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 6:52pm

Not so good here.
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/Beautiful2014.html

[BS]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 6:52pm

Not so good here.
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/Beautiful2014.html

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 6:59pm

I don't even bother to open Talkin' Broadway's reviews anymore.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 7:12pm

So Epstein continues to get back reviews, huh? I need to see this performance.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 9:00pm

I am expecting across-the-board raves for Jessie Mueller, nice things said about the designs and choreography, and mixed-to-positive reactions to the book, which will be the most criticized. The book is imperfect, but not awful. The show is entertaining, enjoyable, and engaging enough.

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 9:59pm

The story serves as an efficient delivery system for Carole King’s surprisingly diverse hits – not much more, nothing less. But there are also some secret weapons. One of them is Jessie Mueller.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Review. Broadway by the Numbers

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 10:25pm

These are all lukewarm at best. Not the RAVE reviews most were expecting.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 10:40pm

NY Times is mixed: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/13/theater/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-at-sondheim-theater.html

Huffington Post is positive: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danny-groner/ibeautifuli-lives-up-to-i_b_4584984.html

Entertainment Weekly is positive, with a B+: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20774864,00.html

NBC is positive: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/beautiful-carole-king-review-239760321.html

AP is negative: http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/review-carole-king-musical-beautiful-insipid/2014/01/12/c00dce14-7be9-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html

Newsday is positive: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-review-fans-will-love-1.6773230

Variety is mixed to positive: http://variety.com/2014/legit/reviews/broadway-review-beautiful-the-carole-king-musical-1201049758/

Updated On: 1/12/14 at 10:40 PM

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 10:42pm

Jessie Mueller deserves all the praise though. She is truly a star. By the time she sings the title song at the end, I was thoroughly blown away by her.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/12/14 at 10:51pm

Jessie Mueller has proved herself big time with this. We have been waiting to see her carry a show in a lead, and that's exactly what she does here. She has proved that she deserves to be in competition with all the other big actresses come Tony time.

[AndrewAndrew]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 12:33am

Jukebox overload! Yet another Broadway musical based on a huge catalog of songs! This time it’s Carole King’s turn, but how did we feel about “Beautiful, The Carole King Musical” now playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre? Watch our video review and find out!
Click Here for full Video Review of BEAUTIFUL

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 12:50am

For the record she is NOT playing the piano

[AndrewAndrew]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 12:54am

@Broadwaystar2

After we filmed the review we were still unsure and asked the press rep if she was really playing. Really interesting response below:

No - Jessie's really playing the right notes, but the piano she's playing is just a prop piano, and the sound is coming from the orchestra pit.

[homeimp]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 1:05am

Most people were expecting raves? I saw the show and enjoyed it, but I didn't expect it to get outright raves from the critics. Great cast, though.

[bobs3]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 1:11am

Much like Barbara Hershey in the film "Portrait of a Lady", not a trained pianist she actually spent several months learning to play Schubert's piano solo (I think it was Impromptu in G Flat) but the piano was a prop and while she played the actual keys the music was added in post-production and played by Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

[StickIt]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 1:14am

Congratulations to the cast and crew! What a nice set of reviews. Not raves, no, but I don't think anyone was expecting out and out raves? The criticism of the "hit parade" feel and of Cynthia and Barry occupying a bit too much space have been suggested on here by a few different posters. Those reviews make Jessie Mueller a real contender for the Tony this year though. Ben Brantley may have had some serious misgivings about the show but there was no doubt about his love letter to her. Even in the less glowing reviews, there are some great pull quotes.

Plenty to toast to here and a solid start to 2014!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 1:50am

I'd say it's between her and Mazzie, unless Mazzie just totally fizzles.

[Broadwaystar2]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 2:19am

Andrew and Andrew, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE you 2. I truly look forward to your reviews??????

[AndrewAndrew]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 2:26am

@Broadwaystar2

thanks! we had a great time at the show!

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 3:17am

I do have to give the show props for being a story driven jukebox musical. Something we really haven't seen since Jersey Boys. Throw in 2 fantastic performances for Jesse Muller and Anika Larson and it is a very good show. However, in a season with four stand out upcoming new musicals being a good show just won't cut it.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 1/13/14 at 6:11am

Million Dollar Quartet? Motown?