Orpheus opened Beautiful: The Carole King Musical last week at Meridian Theatres at Centrepointe. Beautiful is the true story of singer/songwriter/composer Carole King, whose music provided the soundtrack to a generation in the 1960’s and 70’s. The soundtrack is jam-packed with familiar, toe-tapping tunes that everyone loves.
If you’re familiar with my reviews, you know that I love this venue; it’s a great place to see a show. The audience appeared full, and while I’m not sure if it was a sell-out performance, it very well may have been. And I am certain that when word gets out about the talent in this show, whatever tickets might be left for upcoming shows will not be there long!
Director Derek Eyamie really brought this story to life. The show had such a natural flow, despite the timeframe spanning a few decades. It didn’t feel as though I was watching a show, it felt as though I was there, experiencing the remarkable life of Carole King in real life. Music Director Ruth Kwan must also be commended, as the music in this show was truly exceptional.
The set, designed by Steve Jones, was very versatile, transforming the stage into a number of different scenes. The design was intelligent, allowing for quick, seamless transitions between scenes. It was impressive! The lighting, designed by Don Douglas, really set the tone as the story unfolded; it was complimentary to the set and was flawless throughout the entirety of the performance. Costumes, designed by Guylaine Roy, were true to both the time period and the characters, and perfectly suited the show. Kudos to each of these designers on jobs well done!
Standout Performances:
This category can sometimes be difficult to write, but in the case of Beautiful, the performances of a few were so incredible that they REALLY stood out among the rest.
Molly McGuire as Carole King (alternating role):
It is difficult to find the words to express the talent that McGuire possesses. To start, her portrayal of Carole was authentic and believable; she brought a realness and a depth to the character not often seen in community theatre. The audience was able to feel each and every emotion that she did, becoming emotionally invested in the character as she experienced the highest highs and lowest lows throughout her life. But what really stood out about McGuire in this role was her vocals. There is a beautiful tone to her voice that made this show an absolute pleasure to watch from start to finish. The audience was in awe every time she sang, applauding loudly after each number. I will be raving about this performance forever; it was SO good.
Danica Coote as “Uptown” Singer (filling in for Annie Messenger):
Coote portrayed King’s childhood friend Betty at the beginning of the show, and was truly delightful in that role. However, she later sang a solo in the role of the Uptown Singer, and her voice was amazing. The audience was silent as she sang, holding onto every note. I heard a few audience members commenting after the show that this song was a highlight of the show for them. In full agreement, I was surprised to learn that Coote doesn’t normally do that role; she was filling in for another cast member on opening night! This makes her performance all the more impressive.
The Orchestra:
As I mentioned earlier, the music, directed by Ruth Kwan, was exceptional. Every song, from an instrumental perspective, was flawless; I didn’t hear one error. The sound was full and complete, and it met the audience at the perfect volume. Huge kudos and congratulations to every musician involved.
Overall, the show was exceptional, which can be attributed to the immeasurable talents of a few performers. However, while Orpheus is well-known and recognized in Ottawa for their high calibre shows, I must acknowledge that Beautiful was not without issues. While I experienced a few of what will now be my all-time favourite Orpheus moments going forward during Beautiful (from McGuire and Coote), there were other moments that just didn’t quite measure up to what one expects to see during an Orpheus show. A few things that stood out were errors in choreography, as well as vocals that were not quite as strong from a few of the supporting characters. While these things were noticeable, I maintain that this show was absolutely amazing. I have already recommended it to multiple friends, and I plan on seeing it at least once more before the end of the run.
