The Broadway tour of “A Beautiful Noise” onstage at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre is a must-see for Neil Diamond fans. For others, perhaps not.
Crooner Nick Fradiani, an “American Idol” winner, nails all the the great tunes in Diamond’s hit-packed catalog, and the musical accompaniment is superb. Sonny Paladino’s arrangements of the songs, led by keyboardists-conductors James Olmstead and Nancy O’Connor, are terrific. So are members of the gorgeously harmonizing chorus, who also dance. (There are a lot of waving arms and swaying in the choreography by Steven Hoggett.)
The hits are all there, from “I’m A Believer,” recorded by the Monkees, to “Cherry, Cherry,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Solitary Man,” “Shilo,” “Kentucky Woman,” “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” “Red, Red Wine,” “Soolaimon,” “Song Sung Blue,” and, of course, “Sweet Caroline” (twice)!
The ballads (“Play Me,” “Love on the Rocks,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “September Morn,” “I Am, I Said,”) too, sound great.
And for the most part, the tunes mesh into the storyline. The book by Anthony McCarten, authorized by Diamond (as is the entire production) is set around psychotherapy sessions between current-day Neil (Robert Westenberg) and his unnamed doctor (Lisa Renee Pitts).
The conceit seems like a good idea. But, directed by Michael Mayer, the patient and therapist’s conversations are awkward and tilted, too broadly played, right from the outset, and throughout the show. Diamond’s journey from being a sullen, depressed tunesmith to workaholic pop superstar to finally coming clean about relationships with his third wife Katie (who’s referenced but does not appear), is not for a minute believable or compelling.
Nonetheless, the players portraying Diamond’s loves and colleagues do a nice job. Kate A. Mulligan is sassy as songwriter Ellie Greenwich, who gives Diamond his first break (and also pops up as Diamond’s mother in a cliched flashback); Tiffany Tatreau is sympathetic as Diamond’s first wife Jaye; and Hannah Jewel Kohn connects as his second wife Marcia. She milks “Forever in Blue Jeans” for everything it’s worth in her biggest spotlight in the show.
The story does offer a few interesting facts about Diamond’s career, particularly his early hits on the mob-affiliated Bang Records label led by songwriter Bert Berns (Michael Accardo is fine). But it glosses over big moments like his famous flop acting in the 1980 movie remake of “The Jazz Singer,” which is mentioned in just one line.
Ultimately, though, the production’s faults are overshadowed by the spot-on singers and musicians. “A Beautiful Noise” is for people of a certain age who knew “Sweet Caroline” before it was a stadium staple (and maybe for those who can’t resist the singalong), and also for other lovers of Diamond’s singularly catchy pop hits and schmaltzy ballads.
“A Beautiful Noise-The Neil Diamond Musical” runs through June 22 at the Golden Gate Theatre, 1 Taylor St., San Francisco. Tickets are $58 to $265 at broadwaysf.com.
The post Review: Neil Diamond fans get on board for ‘A Beautiful Noise’ appeared first on Local News Matters.