NEW YORK — At their best, biographical jukebox shows like “A Beautiful Noise” dangle immortality, eight times a week. And not just for the audience.
The star subjects — in this case, Neil Diamond, who has sold more than 130 million records — are usually past their peak and no long selling out stadiums. But they get to see an attractive, youthful, virile actor — in this case, the fabulous Will Swenson — encapsulate them in all their swaggering glory, hitting all the high notes, smashing out their hits and often performing them with a technical competence and emotional integrity that matches or even exceeds the originator.
And the audience? They get to buy their tickets and be young again too, remembering concerts where they swayed to “Song Sung Blue,” imbibed to “Sweet Caroline,” seduced to “Red, Red Wine,” sniffled to “Love On the Rocks” or felt a young soul stirred by “Play Me,” not yet understanding what it really is like to get played in life.
