New Victoria Theatre, Woking – until 22 January 2020
Reviewed by Becky Doyle
4****
For someone who had gone to see this show without a real knowledge of Carole King, her music or her history I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it… Even to the extent that I was listening to her music on my drive home. A gorgeous story of young love with drive, passion and ambition along their journey.
It took me a little while to buy into the American accident, but I soon didn’t realise as the music, singing and story evolved. Carole was portrayed so well by Daisy Wood Davis, she made it easy to feel love and sympathy towards at times a naïve, vulnerable but hugely talented girl. Her singing voice captivated the room as did the dancers from the ensemble whose energy made you want to get up on stage and join in.
The set used fantastically to portray different rooms, settings and needs – quite simple yet fully capable of drawing you in. The only way you reaslised that time was passing by was through fashion choices and hairstyles, a really clever way to carry the audience on the journey.
The whole cast were fantastic, Laura Baldwin and Cameron Sharp (Caynthia Weil and Barry Mann) allowed for healthy competition but also a budding friendship and romance and Adam Gillian (Gerry Goffin) was the initial heartthrob who turned into the villain when you realised he was a man who was never going to change…
The finale was literally the meaning of the word “Beautiful” Carole in her long flowing blue dress and her performance at Carnegie Hall, which again Daisy’s voice was phenomenal left myself and from the dancing and singing around, the rest of the audience falling a little bit in love with Carole King.
Highly recommended