‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Will Swenson & cast. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
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THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE
Book by Anthony McCarten
Music & lyrics by Neil Diamond
Directed by Michael Mayer
Broadhurst Theatre
235 West 44th Street, (212) 239-6200
https://abeautifulnoisethemusical.com/
By Scott Harrah
A Beautiful Noise is not exactly a Neil Diamond tribute concert or a solid jukebox musical such as MJ, Tina and Jersey Boys—all these shows had great stories to tell and also showcased the music of the artist portrayed. Instead, this show is akin to attending a Neil Diamond psychotherapy session, hearing him complaining to his therapist about his malaise and unhappiness in his old age. This therapy session takes place throughout the musical. For a man who is a world-renowned musical artist, had endless hit songs, fame and adulation, sold-out arenas, became quite wealthy, married three times and has multiple children, the show mostly focuses on the adage that fame and riches do not buy you happiness.
Neil Diamond is an American icon. He has sold more than 130 million records and had 10 #1 hits in the USA alone. Anyone who grew up in the 1970s and early 1980s knows his music was consistently played on the radio. Some say he has sold more records than Elvis. In addition, he got his break writing songs for other people, most notably “I’m a Believer” for the Monkees.
Despite the fact that all his hits are here—“America,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Cracklin’ Rose,” “Solitary Man” and, of course “Sweet Caroline,” and tons more—there is no arc to the storyline. Neil Diamond was a multi-talented mega star who was essentially a nice Jewish boy from Flatbush, Brooklyn who made it big. Based on this show, he didn’t have any struggles with drugs or alcohol but he suffered from loneliness and had rocky marriages. A Beautiful Noise opens with a therapy session of older Neil (Marc Jacoby) recalling his youth and start in show business through his songbook, while confessing everything to his understanding therapist (Linda Powell). Other than his three marriages, there is no insight into the man. It doesn’t leave much room for a buoyant musical. Fortunately, Will Swenson brings young rock star Neil Diamond to vivid life and gives a vibrant interpretation of Mr. Diamond in the late 1960s up to the early ’80s. When Mr. Swenson is onstage, sporting tight clothing and singing Diamond classics like “A Solitary Man” and “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” complete with dancing chorus members, the show is lively and almost campy and will thrill Neil Diamond fans. Unfortunately, there are not enough production numbers of Diamond’s golden oldies, and many of the songs they do perform aren’t always his best. The narrative of older Neil talking to his therapist about his past really makes the story drag most of the time.
Michael Mayer’s direction is unfocused, and Anthony McCarten’s book has a paper-thin narrative thread. Steven Hoggett’s choreography is frenetic and energetic at times, but not that original. Some of the performances are noteworthy. Bri Suda does a nice job playing Brill Building songwriter Ellie Greenwich (the woman who gave Mr. Diamond his first break), and she doubles in the role of Neil’s mother, Rose. Mark Jacoby is emotional in the right places as older Neil. The biggest redemption to the show and its greatest asset is Will Swenson as the young Neil Diamond, singing each song in a rough, mellifluous, velvety voice without trying to mimic the star. He brings the charisma, looks, energy and the sound needed to anchor and breathe life into this otherwise inert musical. A good jukebox musical about a legend often weaves cherished classic songs into a strong story that actually gives insight and perspective while showcasing the artist’s material. A Beautiful Noise fails to do much justice to the star as it never quite captures the pop-star magic of Neil Diamond in his heyday or reveals anything remarkable about such a legendary, gifted entertainer.
Edited by Scott Harrah
Published January 21, 2023
Reviewed at January 19, 2023 press performance.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: (left to right) Will Swenson, Mark Jacoby & Linda Powell. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Will Swenson & cast. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Robyn Hurder & Will Swenson. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Marc Jacoby. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’ (left to right): Michael McCormick, Tom Alan Robbins, Linda Powell, Marc Jacoby & Will Swenson. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Will Swenson & cast. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Will Swenson & cast. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘A BEAUTIFUL NOISE’: Robyn Hurder & cast. Photo: Julieta Cervantes.
‘THE COLLABORATION’: Paul Bettany & Jeremy Pope. Photo: © Jeremy Daniel, 2022. Scenic & costume design by Anna Fleischle.
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THE COLLABORATION
Written by Anthony McCarten
Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah
Through February 11, 2023
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
261 West 47th Street
(212-239-6200), www.manhattantheatreclub.com
By David NouNou
When one sees The Collaboration, keep in mind that, for dramatic purposes, this play is an abbreviated, slightly altered, condensed time frame of two art giants Andy Warhol (Paul Bettany) and Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeremy Pope) to fit the parameters of a stage play and still make it interesting for the general public, some of whom might not be familiar with art, the artists and their individual or collaborative work.
Warhol and Basquiat were introduced by art dealer, Bruno Bischofberger (Erik Jensen), in 1982 and had a tumultuous friendship with many ups and downs that lasted for many years. They spent a lot of time together, working out, painting and going to parties together and many collaborative art pieces until their 1985 joint exhibition Paintings, shown at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery in New York that was slammed by critics and torn apart by the media. This ultimately was the final rift that practically all but ended their relationship.
As playwright Anthony McCarten writes it, Bischofberger worked with and displayed both artists. He indeed brought the two together because Basquiat was on the rise with his raw-energy paintings and Warhol was on the decline due to his repetitious lithographs. Although the two had nothing in common, Bischofberger thought a collaboration between the two would benefit both and leave a lasting legacy for the art world to enjoy.
McCarten shows the slow argumentative start between the two and a lot of the play centers around them asking each other questions of what art means to each of them. This is displayed by the films and pictures Warhol took of Basquiat’s art process, and Basquiat forcing Warhol to start painting again after 25 years of not touching a brush. With this process, they built a deep and meaningful friendship that intersected with their personal lives. This is where one of Basquiat’s girlfriends, Maya (Krysta Rodriguez), is introduced.
Upon hearing of the death of fellow artist Michael Stewart by police officers for painting graffiti, Basquiat is overwhelmed and is about to resort to heroin use again only to be intervened by Warhol after a fight they had earlier. This is when Warhol returns and becomes the father figure to encourage him to paint together and release their emotions.
The key performance here is Paul Bettany as Andy Warhol. He is iconic, consistent, absorbing, fascinating and intimately raw.
Jeremy Pope has the harder part, that of the rebellious Black artist who has hit it big in the art world because of his unconventional work. He comes across as petulant and, at times, childlike because of his young age. When the two met he was only 22. Mr. Pope has proven his talents in both The Choir Boy and Ain’t Too Proud, earning him two Tony Award nominations in the same year. However, his performance here is gripping at times but mostly inconsistent.
For art connoisseurs, The Collaboration may be a fond remembrance of these two artists. For most theatregoers, it will be an interesting viewing of two formidable, diametrically opposed artists having mutual respect for each other, their works, and their common grounds.
Edited by Scott Harrah
Published January 6, 2023
Reviewed at January 5, 2023 press performance.
‘THE COLLABORATION’: Paul Bettany & Jeremy Pope. Photo: © Jeremy Daniel, 2022. Scenic & costume design by Anna Fleischle.
‘THE COLLABORATION’: Erik Jensen. Photo: © Jeremy Daniel, 2022. Scenic & costume design by Anna Fleischle.
‘THE COLLABORATION’: Paul Bettany & Erik Jensen. Photo: © Jeremy Daniel, 2022. Scenic & costume design by Anna Fleischle.
‘THE COLLABORATION’: Jeremy Pope & Paul Bettany. Photo: © Jeremy Daniel, 2022. Scenic & costume design by Anna Fleischle.
‘THE COLLABORATION’: Krysta Rodriguez & Jeremy Pope. Photo: © Jeremy Daniel, 2022. Scenic & costume design by Anna Fleischle.