Above : Rachel Amanda Thomas nCarole King in BEAUTIFUL THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
As you can see from the photo above, it take a village, perhaps more exactly a whole lot of people to put on a musical. Before continuing this post it is important to note that this is a community theatre production. Everyone you can see is doing the show out of love, no-one is getting paid, and many work full-time or are students, and commit to rehearsals after long, long days. I, have so much regard and love for these theatremakers The quality of their work is consistently good. And the show prices are very affordable compared to the excessive prices of the big musicals that hit town, which are so far out of the price range that many people can afford.
This show gets going with Carole Klein, till she firmed up on stage name, turning up at New York’s legendary Brill Building with her girlfriend. She manages to convince a weary, reluctant Don Kirshner to listen to her a few songs. Kirshner is taken by the songs and signs her up, kickstarting her remarkable career.
The show’s production values were impressive, giving the cast a great stage world for the cast to work in with. Kathy Petrakis directed well, Helen Howe was the Musical Director with Libby Wood her assistant, Ali Bendall‘s choreography was very clear and expressive. The costumes were striking, Petrakis and Cola Zhang’s digital presentations were excellent and Flynn Crewes‘ lighting very effective.
The large cast were a powerhouse led from the front by Rachel Amanda Thomas as Carole. (With some performances Rachel Bendeich is playing Carole). Thomas delivered an appealing, intense performance and showcased a deep, bluesy voice. Craig Nudelman convingly played her songwriting boyfriend, then straying husband, Gerry Goffin.
Whilst the shape of the show was jukebox musical, we still get to meet plenty of the characters and bands that Carole worked with. The cast morph in to these characters well from Paul Adderley as the outwardly thorny but soft centered Don Kirshner to Luke Derrick and Lucy Giles as another very successful songwriting couple, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, at first competitors but then great friends. Then there were performers playing Neil Sedaka and some of the big bands of the time such as the Drifters, the Shirelles and the Righteous Brothers. Then there was the larger, ensemble cast who danced their hearts out. We could just feel the energy stream off the stage.
This beautiful musical ended on a suitably feel good note. Rachel Amanda Thomas at the white grand piano, hitting the keys and belting out the title song, ‘You’ve got to wake up in the morning/ and put a smile on your face/and show the world/all the love in your heart/then people are going to treat you better/ and you will find/you are as beautiful as you feel.’
I am not given to making sweeping statements. Still what I will say is that if you do and go and see the show, the likelihood is that you will have a really good time.
MustSee production’s of BEAUTIFUL THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL until 5th July at the Darling Quarter theatre. Remaining performances are tonight at 7.30pm, Sunday 28 June 2026 at 3pm, Thursday 1 July at 7.30pm, Friday 2 July at 7.30pm, Saturday 3 July at 7.30pm, Friday 4 July at 7.30pm and the final performance on Sunday 5th July at 3pm.
Woohoo! Going tonight David