All the feels: 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' at Music Theatre Wichita
A strong lead performance and large, diverse cast bring King's multitude of hits to life on the Century II Concert Hall stage. Performances continue through August 25.
Nostalgia is popular for a reason. Regardless of when you were born, some pop culture flashbacks can make your heart sing (or ache a little) when you encounter them. Some sources of these emotional treasures are so relatable, and so celebrated, that they transcend generations. Carole King, the subject of “Beautiful,” Music Theatre Wichita’s latest offering, qualifies for this status.
For evidence, one need look no further than Century II Concert Hall on opening night, which brimmed with the anticipation of favorite songs by King and other outstanding musicians. The Brill Building was a hit incubator that produced some of the most beloved songs of the late 1950s and ’60s and advanced important musical contributions of that era, including girl groups, teenybopper pop, early R&B, and clean-cut heartthrobs. While the script of “Beautiful” is a basic narrative about the superstar’s early years as a major writer of the Brill Building Sound, the real heart of this production lies in the cherished numbers that make up its score.
Front and center is the effervescent Devon Perry as Carole, who exudes joy and optimism even in our hero’s dark moments. Perry is the first actor in the history of the show to play this role while performing all of Carole’s piano parts herself — and there are a lot of them. She croons and belts, soars and whispers, capturing King’s dynamic yet vulnerable essence in songs that range from the early “Some Kind of Wonderful” (by King and her husband Gerry Goffin) to numbers from her legendary solo album “Tapestry,” which has been certified 14 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
To be clear, Perry is playing the role of Carole, not doing an impersonation of her, and the result is honest and engaging storytelling, rather than a string of exact copies of the musician’s classics. On Wednesday, the actress clearly won over the audience with her uplifting vocal performance, earnest face and heartfelt delivery. When Carole faces adversity, members of the audience expressed their support for her out loud on more than one occasion and rallied for her throughout the performance.
While Douglas McGrath’s script lacks depth due to the inclusion of so many acclaimed radio hits (26), several one-liners brought the laughs. Many are delivered by Sarah Ellis as Cynthia Weil and David R. Gordon as Barry Mann, who made an entertaining team in songwriting and in life. Their terrific chemistry, buoyant voices, and vivid character development help drive the action in some scenes — a nice balance for Carole and Gerry’s romantic unraveling.
In the unenviable role of Gerry Goffin, Carole’s cheating husband and songwriting partner, Bronson Norris Murphy covers a lot of ground in a convincing performance. We believe him when he falls for Carole. We cheer for him when they marry and successfully co-write hit songs. We worry about him and are disappointed when he lets Carole down. Murphy’s singing voice is a natural extension of whatever Gerry is experiencing at the time, and it is very effective. Timothy W. Robu is a great choice to play Don Kirshner, who was well known for his upbeat demeanor and supportive approach to working with songwriters and musicians. Karen L. Robu is a natural fit for Carole’s cranky, clever, and caring mother Genie.
Director/Choreographer Deidre Goodwin establishes a quick and light-footed pace that gives a dance-like feel even to transitions and scenes without songs. Perhaps the most exceptional element of this final production of MTW’s 2024 season is the opportunity to experience the outstanding talent of MTW’s ensemble members in a more highlighted way. What a pleasure to hear the skilled vocal work and enjoy the precise dancing of these young people as they portray pop stars of the 1960s. It’s tough to single out just a few, but performances that will stick with me include The Drifters (Marcus Byers Jr., Jaden Kindle, Jonah Taylor, and Evan Vaughn), The Shirelles (Aria Evans, Rayna J., Indya Lincicome, and Alanna Porter), Marilyn Wald (Kathryn Adeline), and The Righteous Brothers (Caleb Sporrer and Joshua Messmore). It’s wonderful to see such a diverse group of young performers knocking it out of the ballpark. The show also benefits tremendously, of course, from support of the superb MTW orchestra under the direction of Jesse Warkentin.
The Drifters (Marcus Byers Jr., Jaden Kindle, Jonah Taylor and Evan Vaughn) and The Shirelles (Rayna J., Aria Evans, Alanna Porter and Indya Lincicome) are two of the famous acts portrayed by members of the MTW ensemble. Courtesy photos by Kacy Meinecke
The MTW ensemble — and this entire cast — captures the moves, sound, and glorious spirit of a remarkable time and place in pop-music history. If that doesn’t grab you by the feels, it’s time to tune your heartstrings.
The Details
Music Theatre Wichita presents “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
Multiple performances through August 25, with evening and matinee options, at Century II Concert Hall, 225 W. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
Drinks and snacks are available for purchase before the show and during intermission.
Accessibility note: ASL will be provided during the Saturday matinee performance.
$25-81
Learn more and buy tickets.
Teri Mott is a writer and actor in Wichita, Kansas, where she has covered the arts as a critic and feature writer and worked at nonprofit arts organizations for 40 years. She is a co-founder of the SHOUT.
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