Review: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL A BEAUTIFUL NOISE at The Overture Center

The Neil Diamond Musical A Beautiful Noise is a juke box musical, biography covering the life of Neil Diamond, allowing the audience a peak behind the curtain at the man and his struggles.

The curtain opens to two lone people sitting across from each other in large comfortable chairs. There is silence, a tension on stage that is palpable. An elder Neil Diamond (Robert Westenberg) is trying not to talk to his therapist (Lisa Reneé Pitts). As the doctor convinces Neil to open up through looking at the meaning behind his song lyrics, we begin to see what created this legendary performer. From a lonely boy in Brooklyn to a lonely man in California, we follow Neil’s life.

Despite the brave and effective framing of Neil’s story told through his therapy sessions, the show is fun and filled with energy as it brings the audience into his world, balanced with contemplative moments as Neil struggles with his depression and works through the issues that brought him to this place in life.

The elder Neil remains on stage as his memories play out around him. The audience is introduced to a younger version of the man (Alec Michael Ryan) as he pitches songs to a producer, Ellie Greenwich (Kate A. Mulligan). After bombing with his first song snippets, he sings part of “I’m a Believer” and Ellie is hooked on his talent, a song is bought, and Neil is officially a song writer. And… we are on our way to the making of a king.

There is a lot of great music in the show (I mean its Neil Diamond, how can the music be anything but great?!), and a few songs that bring to life the most poignant moments in the show. Standing out is, “Love on The Rocks’ in Act One dealing with Neil’s first divorce. His wife Jaye (Tiffany Tatreau) has had enough and, in a heartbreaking scene, leaves. The duet of the classic song is beautiful and moving. The emotion on stage real and effective.

In act two, “Brooklyn Roads” leads to Neil finally facing his childhood and the depression that plagued him from that early age. Coming from immigrant parents, Neil always felt out of place and alone. As he finally delves into his childhood, we see real pain and anguish.

The last really moving moment was during “I am I Said” as Neil’s journey comes full circle. Stricken with Parkinson’s disease Neil must face the fact that the glamorous part of his life, what defined him and gave him light in his depression, his ability to perform his songs, is over. As he accepts this fact and who he is now, I, along with those around me, teared up.

As we are led through Neil’s catalog the audience is entertained as it delves deeper into the man’s life.

The show was fantastically entertaining. I and the people around me left the theater singing, humming, and dancing. But we also left with a much deeper understanding of Neil Diamonds songs and lyrics and a greater appreciation for the man behind the American idol, and of our shared humanity.

Maybe it was just a Tuesday night, but the audience as a whole seemed very subdued. I was disappointed by the lack of audience participation. At one point the house lights came up during “Sweet Caroline” inviting the audience to join in and it was nearly silent. I felt for the performers, they give so much energy and were getting nothing back. During the encore, the audience did finally come around, but by then it felt forced and even then, the participation was minimal.

Broadway star and “American Idol” winner Nick Fradiani plays the title role in the National Tour