Review: BEAUTIFUL at the Paramount Lives Up to Its Name

The major problem I have seen with jukebox musicals is they may have the music to entertain with a nostalgic value but not the book. Then there's the pitfall of the music itself being so focused on one artist that, unless you're a die-hard fan, you can get bored ("Jersey Boys" falls into both traps for me). But sometimes there are shows like "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" currently performing at the Paramount Theatre that manage to hurtle both obstacles with seeming ease. Yes, the songs are all there but as we're looking at the career of a songwriter as well as performer we get a very diverse sound. Plus the book goes well beyond "and then I did this song, and then I did that song" with a thoroughly engaging story making this one of those rare jukebox musicals that works on every level.

Even if you're not familiar with the works of Carole King (Julia Knitel) the performer you're probably familiar with the numerous hit songs she wrote in her youth for others along with her writing partner and husband Gerry Goffin (Liam Tobin). Staples of the American songbook such as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", "Up on the Roof", and "The Locomotion". But beyond the musical walk through their hits, the show delves into the tumultuous relationship between King and Goffin as well as their friendship with fellow songwriters Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann (Erika Olson and Ben Fankhauser).

As I said, the show goes well beyond simply a list of songs thanks to the elegantly constructed book from Douglas McGrath. Plus the show offers more than just the songs of King and Goffin as we also get several written by Mann and Weil making for a richer and diverse evening of musical hits.

And if all that weren't enough, the show is jam packed full of extraordinary talents. Not just the leads but also the entire ensemble as the supporting cast turns in some brilliants turns as the artists King wrote for. We get the likes of Rebecca E. Covington, Rosharra Francis, Traci Elaine Lee, and Salisha Thomas as The Shirelles; Andrew Brewer and John Michael Dias as The Righteous Brothers; and Josh A. Dawson, Paris Nix, Jay McKenzie, and Noah J. Rickets as The Drifters just to name a few. And each and every one turns in some of the best performances of those classic numbers outside of the originals.

But of course we have to focus on those four leads. Tobin manages to take a somewhat unlikable character and make him empathetic which is not an easy task. And the secondary storyline of Olson and Fankhauser's relationship is adorable and only serves to compliment the main storyline. But of course it's Knitel who has the lion's share of work as King and she manages a performance that's stunningly breathtaking. She not only channels King but also manages to inhabit her with elements of her own soul piercing voice. Truly a sublime performance.

So I can finally see why this was such a hit on Broadway. A jukebox musical that doesn't only rely on the jukebox. And so with my three letter rating system I give "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" a rousing YAY. If you're already a King fan you'll love it and if not then you may become one. I know I have.

"Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" performs at the Paramount Theatre through October 30th. For tickets or information visit Seattle Theatre Group online at www.stgpresents.org.

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