“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical;” true to its name

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” was just that: beautiful.

The 2014 Tony Award winning musical that chronicles the life and career of Carole King, opened at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace Theater April 5. It starred Abby Mueller as Carole King, Liam Tobin as Gerry Goffin, Becky Gulsvig as Cynthia Weil and Cleveland native Ben Fankhauser as Barry Mann.

In any truly great show, the actors start with amazing source material. Carole King’s music was the soundtrack to a generation. Her journey from Brooklyn teen to world-renowned singer/songwriter is fascinating. Mueller’s demeanor perfectly showcased King’s real life tribulations and eventual triumphs. Mueller’s manipulation of her vocal tones and stylings showed her character’s maturation throughout the show and her overall stage presence made the audience root for Carole the entire show. They celebrated her wins and felt for her when she was betrayed. Mueller’s gusto drove the show and kept the audience enthralled in the story.

Although he plays a much smaller part in King’s story, Fankhauser is ceaselessly entertaining as Barry Mann. He captured Mann’s charming awkwardness perfectly, making him an instant favorite to a hometown crowd.

Fankhauser was lucky in that he started out with a character that is, on his own, very likable. Tobin, portraying the ever wandering Gerry Goffin, had a much harder job. At first Goffin is a gentleman, marrying Carole when she becomes pregnant and supporting her love for songwriting by working a day job he hates, but when the duo’s songs rise to popularity the fame goes to his head and his greediness makes him betray King time and time again. Goffin becomes an unlikely villain due to his struggles with mental health. Tobin’s execution of Douglas McGrath’s incomparable script skillfully redeems Goffin and brings Carole’s whole journey full circle.

In musical theatre communities, jukebox musicals – a musical crafted with pre-existing pop songs – can either be smash hits or campy disappointments. “Beautiful” falls into the category with long running hit Jersey Boys and avoids all of the common traps of jukebox shows. The jukebox musicals that don’t irritate every Broadway fan on the planet are the ones that use an artist’s songs to tell their own story. “Beautiful” does this effortlessly. Carole King’s songs serve as a timeline for her life. The earlier songs, such as “It Might As Well Rain Until September,” are upbeat and optimistic showing Carole’s youthful hopeful side. Her later songs showcase her frustration and her realization that she has to rely on herself. The natural maturation of King’s style and subject matter make her life and music the best candidate for a jukebox musical that I’ve ever seen.

The show’s sublime cast members, enthralling source material and catchy music make it a show you just can’t get out of your head. Its themes of perseverance, self-worth and bravery will inspire each and every theatre goer and introduce Carole King’s music to a whole new generation. The show’s universal and human nature are sure to give it a lengthy stay on the Great White Way and make it a household favorite for many years to come.