‘Beautiful’ ticks all the boxes for a super entertaining time

Because "Beautiful" tells the story of pop legend Carole King, audiences should expect incredible and incredibly popular music.

Young kids might brush it off and say, "oh, but I don’t know Carole King" but that’s exactly where they are wrong: “Beautiful” will show the audiences that not only do they know her, they have actually been a Carole King fan, and for a very long time.

We'll go off the limb and even say “Beautiful” is quite an education— in contemporary history, in music, and in popular culture—and what an education it is!

The award-winning play traces Carole’s career, and in doing so, it shows just how great Carole King’s contribution to pop culture truly is.

Songs you'd attribute to a particular singer, or those you'd ascribe you to a movie or a TV show were in fact written by her and her husband and partner lyricist Gerry Goffin (played by Nick Varrichio); or by their equally prolific friends, the tandem of Cynthia Weil (played by Mickie Bradshaw) and Barry Mann (played by George Schulze).

(L-R) Kayla Rivera as Carole King, Nick Varrichio as Gerry Goffin, Mikkie Bradshaw as Cynthia Weil and George Schulze as Barry Mann

Atlantis certainly brought out their big guns for its 20th anniversary. “Beautiful” is its second presentation for its landmark year and it is, in simple terms….beautiful.

We saw the play twice in one weekend — on opening night and the matinee performance the next day — and on both accounts, Kayla Rivera’s portrayal of Carole King left us a little bit wanting for more.

Perhaps because there was quite the  hype surrounding her? The actress, after all,  flew home all the way from Vancouver to play the lead. Maybe because she's playing Carole King and that is a large role to play. 

But no matter. On both accounts, Mikkie Bradshaw and George Schulze's performance more than made up for it. Jamie Wilson’s portrayal of Don Kirshner more than made up for it. The music more than made up for it. The interstitial performances of The Drifters and The Shirelles more than made up for it.

The Drifters during rehearsals. Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

Which leads us to: Filipino certainly talent takes front and center in “Beautiful.” The voices of supporting actors Gab Pangilinan, Jill Pena, Teetin Villanueva, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, Gabby Padilla, Dean Rosen, Alex Reyes, Tim Pavino, Jep Go, Markus Mann who give life to The Drifters, the Righteous Brothers, The Shirelles, Little Eva, and Janelle Woods are all incredible. We’d even dare say: come for the music, stay for these performances.

The Shirelles during rehearsals. Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

If all this don’t quite spell it out yet, allow us to even be more blatant: Please watch “Beautiful.” Take your mom, your dad, your girlfriends even — there is a strong underlying theme of women empowerment here too.

You won't be sorry. They won't be sorry. In fact, you'll probably come out of the Meralco Theater and one or all of you would say: Those are two hours very well spent. — LA, GMA News 

Until July 7.