Over the past 20 years, Broadway has been cranking out musicals featuring the careers of celebrated 20th century recording artists set to the music of their greatest hits. The Four Seasons, Carole King, Michael Jackson, The Temptations and Tina Turner are just a few to have received this treatment.
With such an extensive and beloved catalogue of hits, it was only a matter of time before Neil Diamond was graced with his own musical. “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” debuted on Broadway in 2022 and is now showing at the Fox Theatre on a national tour through Nov. 10.
The structure of the musical is an older Neil (Dale Duko) looking back at his life during a session with his therapist (Lisa Renee Pitts). Neil is there reluctantly, so the therapist breaks out a songbook of Neil’s lyrics and the trip down memory lane commences.
“A Beautiful Noise” gets by on two things, the strength of Neil Diamond’s music (the dude knows how to write a song) and the lead performance of Nick Fradiani who plays young Neil with charisma and the vocal precision of a top-shelf Vegas impersonator.
Everything else about the show is just OK. Neil’s life was devoid of any earth-shaking drama. The musical tries its best to tug at your heart strings with his two failed marriages and a shady record deal he was able to escape thanks to the success of the ubiquitous “Sweet Caroline.”
But for the most part, he’s just an insanely talented dude with a melancholy personality who enjoyed all the success he deserved. “Les Miserables” this is not.
“A Beautiful Noise” fails to play to its strengths. It rarely clears the decks for the songs to stand on their own, and when it does it seems rushed or burdened by an odd creative choice.
There are almost too many great songs to pick from, “Cracklin’ Rose,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Hello Again,” “America,” “Solitary Man,” “I’m a Believer,” “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” the list goes on and on.
That’s why it’s odd that the entire second act hinges on “Shilo” (which I always thought was about a dog, but it turns out it was about Neil’s imaginary childhood friend. Go figure), which the show treats as the most important song he ever wrote. It is not.
At any rate, an excuse to see Neil Diamond’s songs performed live by someone with the talent of Fradiani is a net positive any day.
“A Beautiful Noise” is not the greatest jukebox musical you will ever see but it is still worth your time.
“A Beautiful Noise” is now playing at the Fox Theatre through Nov. 10. For tickets call 314-534-1111 or go to metrotix.com.
