Theater Reviews Mixed This Week

- *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical* is a jukebox musical that tells the story of Carole King's early life and career, using songs she wrote with her then-husband Gerry Goffin, as well as songs by their friends and rivals Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The narrative follows her journey from a 16-year-old songwriter in Brooklyn to a celebrated solo artist, culminating in her 1971 Carnegie Hall concert. - The book for *Beautiful* was written by Douglas McGrath, and the original 2013 San Francisco production was directed by Marc Bruni with choreography by Josh Prince. The musical eventually moved to Broadway, where its star, Jessie Mueller, won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Carole King. - Patrick Marber's play *After Miss Julie* is an adaptation of August Strindberg's 1888 classic, *Miss Julie*. Marber's version relocates the action to the kitchen of an English country house on the night of the Labour Party's landslide election victory in 1945. - The Park Theatre production is directed by Dadiow Lin and staged in the round, creating an intimate and sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere. The set and costume design by Eleanour Wintour have been noted for convincingly realizing the period kitchen setting and reflecting the class distinctions between the characters. - The production of *Legally Blonde The Musical* at the Mayflower Theatre is based on the 2001 film and the novel by Amanda Brown. The music and lyrics are by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin. - This particular production was noted for its high-energy choreography and brightly colored sets. It starred Amber Davies as Elle Woods, and a unique feature that delighted audiences was the inclusion of two real dogs, Sprout as Bruiser and Milo as Rufus. - The story follows sorority girl Elle Woods to Harvard Law School as she attempts to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner. Along the way, she successfully defends fitness queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial.