BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical preview thread — Page 2

Pretty much in agreement with what has already been said. The first act drags a bit and it's probably because too much time is spent watching other people perform Carole and Gerry's songs. I understand that they were composer/lyricists, but I guess I would've rather heard Jessie perform more songs, as they were definitely the high points in the show. I went in with high expectations based on what friends in San Francisco had told me about the show and while it didn't quite live up to their reviews, it was still an enjoyable theatre experience. The show definitely has its charm and I'll be returning to see it again.

I also agree that it is way too early to start talking Tony noms, but I thought Jessie Mueller was phenomenal...it's going to be a crazy category this year! Was also impressed with Anika Larsen, her deadpan delivery elicited a ton of laughs from the audience.

*edited for spelling...

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 11:02 AM

It's an agreable enough evenng, formulaic in structure, with a sympathetic lead chatacter, winningly played by Jessie Mueller, and enough good songs and laugh lines to satisfy. As is the problem with so many of these jukebox musicals, the songs presented on stage don't hold a candle to the original versions. Still, it's always good to hear them. I also think too much time is accorded the other couple and their work.

"The Poker scene is still intact, and still stops the show cold."

Dave is absolutely right. It's an unpleasant and discomfiting scene that catches the audience by surprise --- a bad surprise -- and a total change from all that preceded it. It really should be cut.

Ugh...double post. Sorry!

Updated On: 11/22/13 at 11:43 AM

Agreed...the reveal at the end of Act 1 wouldn't come as some thudding anvil should the poker scene be cut. It's established just fine without the poker scene.

And yes...part of On Broadway has been cut. And yes...more of the numbers need that. That whole section needs a Michael Bennett touch. Cross-fades, quick cuts. Whatever you can do to tighten and speed it up. Let the audience have to catch up and then be surprised when the next song hits.

I just got home from the matinee, and oh, my God, did Jessie Mueller blow us away! Her Carole was heartbreaking, warm, vulnerable. Yes, I am a baby boomer. I will admit it. I was one of the people who, back in the ’70s, dropped the needle down on "Tapestry" and played it so often that the disc wore out. Even considering that, my possible bias, I loved this show from start to end. Period. The pacing was great, the performances were awesome, the book was funny. I will write more later when I'm down from my high! Go see Beautiful!

Updated On: 11/25/13 at 07:58 PM

Who's Jessica?

Ok I'm all about Tony predictions. And I truly LOVE Jessie Mueller. But with there being at least 8 or 9 more shows yet to hit Broadway that we know of, not including some we might not know of. It's quite premature to say that someone will DEFINITELY win. Will she get a nomination? I'm almost certain. But to say 7 months out from the Tonys that anyone will win is quite the gamble. IMO

Toward the end of the show Carole is in the recording studio for Tapestry, and she performs It's Too Late. I don't remember if the song had any more significance than that.

Any chance this will be on TDF during previews?

Yes, they did restore You've Got a Friend.

I was just looking at my playbill from the first preview on Bway and "You've Got a Friend" actually isn't in it. I wonder if it was in and out of the show so much that they hadn't corrected the playbills in time.

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I know that every single person is expecting a rave from me on this board and I just want to say that I went into this actually with very high expectations and with a much more critical eye than most because I was so excited for it and what I want to post here is genuine and I really want to hear other opinions on the show and what could be better because I certainly had some thoughts myself on what the preview period could be used for.

Anyway, I did really, really enjoy the show. I thought it was a sincere love letter to one of the greatest rockstars of our time (what music-loving gal doesn't grow up loving Carole?) and much more compelling as a story than I had expected. I didn't know much about Carole's background before seeing it, just the basics, and I have to say after seeing it I really want to pick up her memoir because what a life this lady had.

My favorite moments were definitely the 1650 Broadway medley which I thought was just electric and got a huge response from the crowd the night I was there, Locomotion (so exuberant and so much fun), Pleasant Valley Sunday, It's Too Late (one of my favorite Carole songs), Natural Woman, and of course, the rousing finale, Beautiful. Least favorites...well, I agree with others that the "hit parade" goes on a bit too long. The idea I had for a fix was to cut The Drifters from "Up on the Roof" and leave the song with Gerry. Jake Epstein barely has anything to sing as is and the song is such an important touchstone for his character. Maybe cutting that production number could help stop the repetitive hit after hit feel of the second half of the first act.

I also found the "strip poker" moment problematic. I was with them up until Gerry's freak out and after that, I was bewildered. Our friends just had a serious fight about their marriage in front of us and so now I'm going to propose? Odd and very nonsensical to me.

The second act was wonderful. The moment where SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Carole comes home after leaving Gerry and breaks down with her mother was so well done and moving to me, it was exactly the right tone and I just thought it was absolutely lovely. I was happy to see "You've Got a Friend" in the show after reading on here how it has been in and out over the course of the San Francisco run and previews. I agree with Scott, that song is so iconic, leaving it out would've been very sad. King's catalogue is so extensive and full of treasures that I think everyone is going to have at least one song they wished had made it in. For me, that was probably "Child of Mine", I was waiting for more of a moment with their children, but I totally understand how that wouldn't really fit with the show as it is now. Anyway, as for the material itself, I think they're actually in great shape considering the time they have to work on the show. There are definitely issues but hearing how the second act was totally overhauled between San Francisco and New York, it seems like they're willing to put in the work which is always nice.

I won't bore you with the expected endless raving I have about Jessie Mueller's performance. I personally think she's a real contender for the Tony this year and that her work is naturalistic and understated and simple in all the ways Carole was and her voice is remarkably King-esque for someone who has previously sounded very different stylistically in shows. Jake Epstein was the real surprise for me. I had never seen him onstage and I thought he really captured Goffin's swagger and I thought he weaved his neurosis and on-the-verge energy seamlessly throughout his performance. The audience actually booed him at curtain call, which I always take as a sign of a "villain" well played. Anika Larsen and Jarrod Spector were hilarious and winning, really great supporting performances. Anika may have been sick or just tired when I saw it, her voice seemed a little weak and you could really hear her pushing on the top notes in "He's Sure the Boy I Love", but it didn't really bother me since she was just so charming. And Liz Larsen...talk about making the most of every moment you have onstage. "You should brush your hair for Carnegie Hall!" was just the epitome of every Brooklyn Jewish mama bear I've ever met. The ensemble here is also fabulous. The blend in their vocals is incredible and they all hop in and out of their respective roles with ease. Couldn't have been more impressed with the cast, top to bottom.

Okay that was a freakin' dissertation. That's all I got. I hope to see it again before previews end, maybe at the end of December, and I can't wait to see what else they've cooked up then!

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