Moonlight Presents "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical". A Good Production with a Wonderful Cast

Currently Playing Until August 31 

A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

Melissa Musial and Brandon Keith Rogers. Photo Karli Cadel

Moonlight Theatre is definitely one of San Diego's gems. Continuing with their 43rd season, the Vista-based venue is presenting Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and, there is definitely magical value when these productions hit that stage under the stars. With the current weather, it adds substantially to the experience. The musical had its Broadway debut in 2013 with a book by Douglas McGrath, and it tells the story of how Carole King started her prolific career at the tender age of 16 along with future husband Gerry Goffin and other hit writing sensations like Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Phil Spector.

I've mentioned in other reviews that the label "jukebox musical" does not sit well with me. I feel it diminishes the essence and feel of songs that were staples for a generation and because of the impact, continue to cross from generation to generation, creating different meanings and this era, "viral trends". After that mini-manifesto, John Vaughan directed this production and also choreographed the numbers of all those chart-hitting singles like The Locomotion and On Broadway. Vaughan's direction is imaginative and playful, as some of the songs belong to a flashback or live TV moment, so he captured the intention and effect behind those staged songs.

Photo Karli Cadel

Blake McCarty graces the scene once more through projection design at a big scale, where moving pillars and screens project stage walls, curtains, and office building frames. As a nice bonus, the chart number of the hit being performed is scrolling vertically. That, combined with the audience's "ooohs and ahhhs" reactions when listening to the music, was part of that wonderful communion that happens at a live performance when all are truly present. A team effort with Jennifer Edwards's lighting design that nailed the look of live TV during that time, adapting it to the stage so it would shine as it should, and Bonnie Durben's properties coordination, literally moving all the pieces that round out each of the scenes.

Melissa Musial as Carole King and Brandon Keith Rogers as Gerry Goffin, make a solid stage couple with amazing vocals and good chemistry. I felt the New York/Brooklyn accent was a tad much, somewhat caricatured, but it was minimal compared to what they brought to the musical. Another solid couple, Allison Spratt Pearce as Cynthia Weil and Bryan Banville as Barry Mann, oof, mad, mad chemistry, and what a set of voices. A cool aspect about both couples is that we see them throughout a decade. The changes are indeed captured both histrionically with attitudes and mannerisms and with a little help from the design like Peter Herman's hair and wig. I saw Spratt Pearce last in CCAE's Every Brilliant Thing, so this was a nice, strong contrast. Dan Mason as the hit administrative mogul, Don Kirshner brings total comedic relief to the piece.

Melissa Musial, Brandon Keith Rogers, Allison Spratt Pearce, Bryan Banville.
Photo Karli Cadel

This rendering of Beautiful is a pretty good one, with a live band under the musical direction and conduction of Elan McMahan, with Jim Zadai's sound design that goes by without a glitch or static being that it is open-air. 

In the true Moonlight way, having productions with hefty casts, they once again prove the job can get done right. The cast also includes Sandy Campbell, Jarrett Anthony Bennett, Hayley Dorling, Madeline Edwards-Walter, DarRand Hall, Brooke Henderson, Shirley Johnston, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Chase Lowary, Billy McGavin, Anthony Vacio, Erica Marie Weisz, and Mario White.

Seeing what's in store for next season, will Melissa return to portray Jenna in Waitress the Musical? -If you know you know-

The show closes on August 31. For more information, please click here.