A Beautiful Noise Live at Providence Performing Arts Center

Okee dokee folks … I am VERY tempted to start off my review with the refrain, “So Good, So Good,” heard many times throughout the jukebox musical, A Beautiful Noise, but I am not that corny, or am I? Well, it was “So good!”

The Story Behind a Beautiful Noise

A Beautiful Noise is the story of Neil Diamond’s rise to fame but is told through a therapy session at the urging of his third wife, Katie.

We experience the recollections of old Neil through young Neil. There is two Neil Diamonds in the show, often on stage at the same time. His therapist has him go through a large book of his song lyrics to help him express himself in the session. As he is going through the book, a horde of dancers appear from behind the big leather chair. Old Neil is seated, and the dancers begin to sing a medley of Diamond’s songs. Then young Neil appears and begins his attempts at becoming a songwriter in the famous Brill Building. He finally gains a hit with his song “I’m a Believer” that was recorded by The Monkees. His wife says to him that if their infant daughter could talk, she would “Brag to her friends that her daddy wrote a song for The Monkees.”

He continues to write more songs. A scene in a recording studio shows groups singing demos of his new songs written for other artists. When one group attempts “Kentucky Woman” Neil corrects them. The “boss lady-songwriter” realizes that he has a great voice, and encourages him to be a performer. He reluctantly takes a gig at The Bitter End one night and makes “nine dollars and a free drink” for his performance. He is invited back to play again by the owner. A woman, Marcia Murphy, is obviously interested in Neil, who is already married with a kid and pregnant wife. The attraction is mutual and Diamond’s career and affair with Murphy both take off.

The show carries on with his divorce from his first wife and the ongoing relationship with Marcia Murphy who becomes his 2nd wife. They often discuss Diamond’s general malaise in life and that performing “keeps the clouds away.” He signs a record deal with the mob owned Bang Records and wants out of it almost immediately. He is told that if he delivers a hit record, they will let him out. “Sweet Caroline” winds up as his ticket to contract freedom. His shows get bigger, and his tours get longer and involve “more sequins.” His endless time on the road takes its toll on his marriage to Marcia Murphy, and they eventually split.

The story continues right up to the point where his 3rd wife Katie, who is not portrayed by anyone in the musical, has him go to therapy. What we see on stage are dramatizations with Diamond’s songs and energetic dance numbers of the discussions in the therapy session. Finally, he makes a breakthrough in the session and the reluctance stops and the session draws to a close. He realizes that he created a “beautiful monster” with his career. Old Neil is dealing with the prospect of never performing again, at his doctor’s insistence, and losing his identity and the rush of performing. The show finishes with all the dancers in black and young Neil performing, “Holly, Holy.”

Review

As soon as Nick Fradiani, who plays young Neil Diamond, opens his mouth and sings you know he was made for this role. His renditions of Diamond’s hits are spot on and his voice is strikingly similar to the real Neil. Fradiani owns this show. Every number that he fronts is spectacular. If you closed your eyes you might even think you were experiencing a Hot August Night live!

Robert Westenberg’s portrayal of old Neil, I felt, was generic, though it propelled the narrative well. He just seemed to be any old man and not specifically old Neil. However, when he eventually did sing at the end of the musical, his singing voice was believable as an older Neil Diamond.

Hannah Jewel Kohn, who plays Marcia Murphy, was enjoyable. She had great dance moves. Her big solo of “Forever in Blue Jeans” allowed her to showcase her dance moves and let her voice shine. The audience loved her.

The set for this musical is very simple in the first half – occasional pieces of furniture or small props and background screens. The second half has the more elaborate staging that showcases the live band on a two-story platform with lots of bright lights.

The audience got involved in the show several times with (encouraged) clapping and singing along and when they began the duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” I heard a loud “WOO!” from the back of the room. It is a show where the audience does often sing along because many feel a very strong connection to the music.

You will hear many of Diamond’s hits throughout the evening and most are sung by Nick Fradiani, though occasionally other cast members will take the lead if the song is used for a particular reason, such as a relationship breakup. “Shilo,” “Solitary Man,” “America,” Cherry, Cherry,” “I Am, I Said,” “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” “Red, Red Wine,” “Play Me,” and many of his best-known songs are all part of the musical.

A Beautiful Noise is one of those Broadway musical experiences where if you can score a ticket, you should definitely go. You won’t be sorry.

A Beautiful Noise is at The Providence Performing Arts Center through September 28. For more, “Longfellow Serenade” over to PPACRI.org (they don’t sing that one in the show!).

That’s it for now. You can listen to my podcasts at motifri.com/rootsreportpodcast and find my concert photographs at motifri.com/fuzeksfotos. Thanks for reading and listening. Visit johnfuzek.com for more information.