One of the most successful and influential musicians of all time, the pressure is on for Molly-Grace Cutler, playing the part of Carole King. Nikolai Foster's Tony and Olivier award-winning jukebox musical Beautiful tells the heartwarming true story of King's rise to fame, from writing hit songs with her husband Gerry Goffin to her stellar solo career.
The songs are, as hoped, fabulous and the soundtrack to a generation, many members of whom are in the audience tonight at Manchester's Palace Theatre. From the second Molly-Grace Cutler appears on stage singing So Far Away, you feel enveloped by her velvety tones, already convinced that you are watching King herself on stage.
The dynamic between King's character and Seren Sandham-Davies' Cynthia Weil, with whom, along with her husband Barry, King and husband Gerry share a friendly rivalry, plays out really well on stage. Sandham-Davies is just the right combination of an annoying 'pick-me' type and a friend who cares.
