Put Another Quarter in the Jukebox

Feel The Earth Move

Remember The Drifters? The Shirelles? The Righteous Brothers? No? Well you are in for a treat when you get yourself to MusicalFare to be entertained by a stellar cast in this jukebox musical that chronicles the early life of prolific composer and lyricist Carole King. You will also learn a great deal about the history of pre-and-post Beatles pop, R & B, and rock music, and how they evolved from the three minute songs that radio stations demanded into, well, however long the artists wanted their songs to be. Think Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd to name two.

If you do remember the Drifters et al, then you are also in for a treat, a walk down memory lane that will take you right back to those long ago days of the jitterbug and slow dancing in high school gymnasiums and music halls all over the country.

From Klein to Queen

Carole Klein was 16 when she first sold a song to Don Kirshner, a producer  who ran what was really a songwriting factory across the street from the Brill Building near a very sketchy Times Square in the 1950s and 60s. Kirshner hired Carole, who changed her name to King, on a contract basis along with lyricist Gerry Goffin, her lover. They married when she became pregnant with their first child. Their collaboration and marriage lasted for over a decade, and that is the period that is mainly chronicled in the musical.

The cast of 18, most of whom play different roles, have it all going on. The 1650 Medley near the beginning of the musical is a fast-paced song and dance filled introduction to the talent and high energy of the people writing and performing pop music from “Splish Splash” to “Poison Ivy.”

Maria Pedro plays Carole King, a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn who is not schooled in the ways of charming men with a roving eye. Ms. Pedro has a fine-tuned comedic sense along with her powerful voice. She handles growing from a naive girl into a woman who finds her own voice with aplomb.

Sean Ryan is the appealing but selfish and troubled Gerry Goffin, a man who gives the impression he wishes he were better than he is. The interactions between the lovers are very sweet at first, but then become something else entirely. Mr. Ryan has a fine voice, and does not shy away from exposing the narcissism and severe anxiety of his character.

As rivals and friends of Carole and Gerry, Gretchen Didio is excellent as the confident lyricist, Cynthia Weil, who collaborates with composer Barry Mann, played by Josh Wilde who is very believable as that lovesick hypochondriac. John Kaczorowski has just the right energy as the slick, but caring producer, Don Kirshner.

A History of Pop

The songs come one after the other, from “So Far Away” to the goofy “Who Put the Bomp” to the Shirelles crossover hit, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, to “Natural Woman”, and the brilliant “Beautiful.” They, and many more, are sung by this great cast with a genuine feeling for the songs and the times.

Costumes by Kari Drozd are very much in keeping with the eras depicted from Carole’s early frumpy look to the glittering gowns worn by the Shirelles, the flashy suits of the Drifters,and the hippie clothes of the later 60s. Susan Drozd is equally adept with hair, wigs and makeup.

Period choreography is by Robin Barker, Music Direction by Theresa Quinn who leads a stellar group of five musicians. Randall Kramer, Artistic/Executive Director of MusicalFare directs this delightfully entertaining musical.

So, if nostalgia and/or pop music and its history are your “bag”, or if you just really enjoy a well produced musical, get thee to MusicalFare before it is all sold out.