by Mark G. Auerbach
If you like those biographical jukebox musicals, like Jersey Boys (Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons), and Beautiful (Carol King), you’re going to love A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. The sold out crowd at The Bushnell on opening night went wildly enthusiastic, swaying, clapping, and singing along in places. They applauded Nick Fradiani, the Neil Diamond of “then” who gives one of the most stunning performances, looking, singing, and posturing like the Neil Diamond we know from concerts and TV. He was absolutely extraordinary. Michael Mayer’s fast-paced direction, Steven Hoggett’s energetic Vegas-style choreography, and an appropriately gaudy production with David Rockwell’s sets, Emilio Sosa’s glitzy costumes, Kevin Adams’ splashy lighting design, and Jessica Paz’s balanced sound are a delight.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, opens the Bushnell’s Broadway season, direct from a popular Broadway run, and it’s a beautiful noise of Neil Diamond’s greatest hits, wrapped up in Anthony McCarten’s thoughtful script, which tells Diamond’s story. Diamond approved the script and the production, and so do I. Although I know many Diamond songs (and there’s a whole lot more I knew, but did not associate with Diamond), seeing Diamond’s rise to fame, and the story behind the songs, leaves me with a much stronger appreciation of his work. In A Beautiful Noise, Nail Diamond now (played by Robert Westenberg from the original cast of Broadway’s Into The Woods) tells his story as Nick Fradiani, the Connecticut native who scored a triumph on American Idol, plays Neil (then). and headlines this tour, after starring in A Beautiful Noise on Broadway. Diamond sold over 130 million records worldwide, had ten #1 singles on the Billboard’s “Hot 100” , and 38 songs make the Top Ten. He starred in the movie The Jazz Singer, received a Kennedy Center Honor, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The musical is almost all musical, with a catalogue of Diamond hits from “Song Sung Blue”, “America”, “Sweet Caroline” to “You Don’t Bring me Flowers”. Anthony McCarten’s book has the Neil Diamond of today (given a marvelous performance by Westenberg) talking to a therapist, who has a book with the ;lyrics to all of Diamond’s songs, from the ones he wrote for others to the ones he made famous himself.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical plays The Bushnell through Sunday, October 6. Les Miserables follows, beginning October 29. For details: www.bushnell.org.
The Bushnell presents A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Music and lyrics by Neil Diamond. Book by Anthony McCarten. Directed by Michael Mayer. Choreography by Steven Hoggett. Scenic design by David Rockwell. Costume design by Emilio Sosa. Lighting design by Kevin Adams. Sound design by Jessica Paz. Starring Nick Fradiana as Neil Diamond (then) and Robert Westenberg as Neil Diamond (now). Through October 6 at The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. For details: www.bushnell.org.
Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and The Yale School of Drama. He has worked for arts organizations nationwide, and reported on the arts for print and broadcast. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat, and On The Mark for WCPC15 and 89.5fm/WSKB. He’s a regular contributor to Berkshire Onstage and a member of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association.