“Girls don’t write music. They teach it.” Few lines better capture the uphill battle women faced in the music industry during the 1960s. At a time when hit songs were manufactured in tiny offices, handed to glamorous stars while their writers remained largely anonymous, Carole King rewrote the rules. MustSeeShows’ production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical celebrates the extraordinary woman who stepped out from behind the melody and proved her own voice was every bit as powerful as the songs she wrote.

Opening with Carole alone at her iconic white baby grand piano before her Carnegie Hall concert, Beautiful rewinds to King’s schoolgirl years, charting both her rise to stardom and the evolution of popular music. Director Kathy Petrakis steers Carole’s journey with confidence, balancing infectious energy with emotional depth while moving effortlessly between decades, songwriting sessions and concert performances. This was an era dominated by carefree teeny-bopper hits like “Stupid Cupid”, “Splish Splash” and “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, where hitmaker Don Kirshner (played with charisma by Paul Adderley) is always searching for the next chart-topper. Against this backdrop, Carole’s songs gradually shift from commercially crafted hits to emotionally honest storytelling, culminating in the groundbreaking Tapestry.

Rachel Bendeich captures that transformation with wonderful warmth and authenticity, tracing Carole’s evolution from an uncertain young songwriter to the confident artist who embraces her own voice. Her vocals grow with the character, blossoming from gentle restraint into the rich, assured sound that defines King’s iconic catalogue, making her emergence as a solo performer radiant and deeply moving.

Opposite her, Craig Nudelman brings warmth and complexity to husband Gerry Goffin. Their creative partnership feels almost alchemical, his lyrics and her melodies intertwining so seamlessly it is easy to understand how they produced hit after hit. Nudelman keeps Gerry sympathetic even as his selfishness and failings begin to fracture both his marriage and creative partnership. Rather than reducing their relationship to heroes and villains, we are offered two gifted artists whose personal and professional lives become impossibly intertwined.

Luke Derrick’s delightfully neurotic Barry Mann and Genevieve Grey’s razor-sharp Cynthia Weil provide much of the musical’s lively banter and energy. Their playful rivalry and friendship with Carole and Gerry is a constant delight, as neighbouring songwriting offices become creative battlegrounds where each new hit inspires the next. Together, Barry and Cynthia penned classics including “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”, “On Broadway” and “Walking in the Rain”. Grey is a standout, bringing wit, confidence and determination to Cynthia, a fiercely independent woman whose talent speaks for itself.

One of the production’s greatest pleasures is the thrill of recognition. The opening chords of another classic ripple through the theatre, prompting audible gasps, tapping feet and gently swaying shoulders as songs emerge in modest writing rooms before blossoming into iconic performances. Musical Director Helen Howe, Assistant Musical Director Libby Wood and the polished live band capture the unmistakable sound of the era with warmth and vitality, ensuring every timeless classic lands with infectious energy. Rich with nostalgia, heart and an irresistible catalogue of hits, Beautiful reminds us Carole King didn’t just write the soundtrack of a generation, she helped define it.

The ensemble deserves enormous praise for its versatility. They slip effortlessly between television presenters, producers, session musicians, backing singers, dancers and a parade of 1960s music legends, bringing to life the fascinating stories behind some of pop music’s most enduring classics. From Little Eva recording “The Loco-Motion” to appearances by artists including The Drifters, The Righteous Brothers and Neil Sedaka, these vibrant recreations celebrate not just the songs themselves but the remarkable stories behind them. Every performer enjoys moments to shine, while Ali Bendall’s energetic retro choreography, blending classic 1960s social dances, polished television variety-show movement and effervescent pop styling, keeps the storytelling vibrant and visually dynamic.

For all its infectious music, Beautiful never shies away from the double standards women faced in the 1960s. While the men enjoy freedoms their wives are rarely afforded, the women are expected to write hit songs, raise families and put everyone else’s needs before their own. It is little wonder the audience erupts into spontaneous applause when Carole finally declares, “What about my feelings? I’m worth more.” That moment marks both her personal and artistic liberation. By the time Rachel Bendeich closes the show, Carole has become an artist completely at home in the spotlight, delivering a finale that is both uplifting and deeply moving.

Uplifting, inspiring and irresistibly entertaining, Must SeeShows has crafted a joyous celebration of resilience, creativity and the enduring power of music. You’ll love the nostalgia, you’ll love the music, and you’ll most likely fall in love with Carole King all over again. Sometimes the woman behind the man is the genius behind the music.

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical runs until 5 July at the Darling Quarter Sydney.

Please note : some performances will feature Rachel Amanda Thomas in the role of Carole King and Lucy Giles in the role of Cynthia Weil.

For further details see: https://www.darlingharbour.com/whats-on/events/beautiful-the-carole-king-musical

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