"Beautiful - The Carole King Musical"

Nottingham Theatre Royal.

"Beautiful" tells the story of the rise to worldwide success of singer/songwriter Carole King, including her massive hits, plus many of the songs she had written for other people, with and without the help of Gerry Goffin, who later became her husband.

Carole King's music has a very special place in my heart, so there was no way that i was missing out on this.

This is my second time seeing this Jukebox style musical, and when the soundtrack is as wonderful as this one, who could refuse a return visit. From the off though you could tell that there are differences from the previous time that I'd seen this. It's very pacy with many of the actors also doubling up as the on-stage musicians. there's hardly time to take a breath before the next hit comes along.

Starting from being a solo songwriter, travelling to the office of Don Kirshner and being taken on as an in-house songwriter, to being part of a song writing team with Gerry Goffin, through to her incredible solo career. It takes in her relationships, both personal and professional, more often tempestuous with Goffin. Unlike many lesser Jukebox musicals, every song has a story attached, making this show entertaining as well as educational.

Molly-Grace Cutter plays Carole King and recreates those magical musical memories, including so many pop classics from the 1960s and 1970s. Molly-Grace really captures that King sound, complete with those vocal inflections that King sang with.

Gerry Goffin is played by Tom Milner, and I didn't know that Goffin was left-handed either. Brilliant vocals to match Molly-Grace's, and shown off spectacularly in "Pleasant Valley Sunday".

The other big song writing team of Cynthia Weill and Barry Mann is played by Seren Sandham-Davies and Joe Slovick. Both actors have great voices, especially highlighted for me by Joe's rocking rendition of "We've Got To get Out Of This Place".

Garry Robson plays Don Kirshner, the man who put together both song writing teams and promoted their careers, allocating their songs to the various fledgling bands of the time; The Drifters, The Shirelles, The Righteous Brothers and others in the Kirshner stable.

Songs like "Oh Carol", "The Locomotion", "Up On The Roof", "It Might As Well Rain Until September", "Uptown", "Up On The Roof", "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman", "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", "Beautiful", "So Far Away", "It's Too Late", "I Feel The Earth Move", "Take Good Care Of My Baby" and "You've Got A Friend" are among the wealth of hits shoe horned into this two and a half hour show.

The show is directed by Nikolai Foster and the musical arrangements are by musical supervisor, Sarah Travis, orchestrated by Steve Sidwell. Dan De Cruz is the Musical Director as well as playing the roles of Neil Sedaka and one half of the Righteous Brothers.

The set is also something that has changed from the last time that I saw this musical. It moves swiftly from one to the next and designed by Frankie Bradshaw.

Leah Hill's choreography is spot on with the retro dances like the Mashed Potato, and a very funky version of The Locomotion. In fact, all the dances are packed with energy.

And you will love the attention to detail with the costumes, especially with the girl groups. Edd Lindley is responsible for the marvellous costumes you see on stage.

Wonderful Lighting Design by Ben Cracknell and punchy and clear Sound Design by Tom Marshall.

The show is an absolute must, not only for fans of Carole King and her music, but for anyone who love well-crafted songs, all deserving the description of "classic". And if you did see the show last time it was at the Theatre Royal, go back and see it again because there has been so much that has changed in the staging of this show, due to the production being by The Theatre Royal Bath in conjunction with Mayflower Theatre and The Curve Theatre, Leicester.

This show is too beautiful to miss out on, so don't!

"Beautiful" will be at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 8 October.