A Lifetime of Song
Reviewed by Mary Alderson
When you picture Neil Diamond singing lively songs like “Sweet Caroline” or “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show”, he’s smiling, enjoying himself on stage. Yet, from this new musical about his life, we learn that he had long battles with depression. In fact, the show opens with his psychiatrist talking to an aging Neil about his sadness.
The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise is now on stage at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre.
The show flips back and forth from present to past, between two actors, both playing Neil: Robert Westenberg is Neil-Now, playing the older version, while Nick Fradiani plays Neil-Then, the younger man. Young Neil wants to be a songwriter, with no interest in performing. He pens a few hits for others; most notably “I’m a Believer” and “Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) for The Monkees. With encouragement from Ellie Greenwich played perfectly by Heidi Kettenring (Greenwich was famous for her songwriting work at the legendary Brill Building), Neil eventually sings his own songs.
Singing his own compositions leads to fame and fortune, and also stress. He feels pressure to write more material, and put on a good show. He keeps touring, feeling he has to for his fans. He has all the money he needs with “Sweet Caroline” earning him a fortune, but he still can’t shake his sadness, forcing himself to smile on stage. He has two failed marriages, both times taking a toll on his mental health.
So, while there is a cloud of sadness hanging over this musical, the audience very much enjoys the 29 songs included in the performance. Nick Fradiani as Neil-Then is perfect as the young Neil. He has the voice down pat, sounding just like the real thing. Fradiani may be remembered as the 2015 winner of American Idol. While his singing is perfect, he doesn’t quite look like the Neil we remember. As a very young Neil, his short hair cut is appropriate. But the famous Neil we remember always had the side part as his hair grew long, with bangs sweeping across his forehead. This Neil looks more like he borrowed his shag-style wig from Keith Partridge. Nevertheless, the way Fradiani sings the likes of Cherry, Cherry, Cracklin’ Rosie, Forever in Blue Jeans, Holly Holy, Kentucky Woman, Solitary Man, Shilo, Song Sung Blue or Thank the Lord for the Night Time, to name just a few songs, certainly makes him a real crowd pleaser. The opening night audience cheered their approval.
The two Neils are backed up by the various people in their lives, especially the two wives played by Mary Page Nance and Tiffany Tatreau, both of whom have excellent singing voices. Nance and Fradiani sing the duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” beautifully. It actually brings tears to your eyes. Yes, Neil Diamond wrote that song which Barbra Streisand made famous.
The entire cast is made up of strong singers with pitch perfect voices. As back up singers, their harmonies are stunning. However, their choreography is lacking. The footwork is substandard and unpolished. In fact, it is actually hand-ography. Arms and hands fly about in no particular pattern, and there is too much distracting movement on stage, perhaps because there are more people than necessary. Nonetheless, they can be forgiven because they sing like angels.
As the cast took their bows and sang an encore on opening night, there was a buzz of excitement on stage when Tiffany Tatreau (who played Jaye Posner, Neil’s first wife) came forward to talk about how much she loved Mamma Mia when she first saw it on Broadway, and how it convinced her to go into musical theatre. Then she invited Canada’s grande dame of musical theatre, Louise Pitre, who played Donna in Mamma Mia on Broadway, to come on stage. Pitre, along with the cast, sang a final rousing rendition of “Sweet Caroline”.
It is definitely the music that makes this show. All the songs are written by one brilliant man and they are absolutely brilliant. In fact, the music shines like a diamond.
The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise continues with eight shows a week at the Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario until June 7. Call 1-800-461-3333 or visit www.mirvish.com for tickets.
Photo: Nick Fradiani as Neil-Then, with the company. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise
By Anthony McCarten
Music and Lyrics by Neil Diamond
Directed by Michael Mayer
Musical Direction by Sonny Paladino
Choreography by Steven Hoggett
Performed by Robert Westenberg, Lisa Reneé Pitts, Nick Fradiani, Heidi Kettering, Tiffany Tatreau, Gene Weygandt, Mary Page Nance, Michael Accardo, et al.
David and Hannah Mirvish Presentation
Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., Toronto
April 28 to June 7, 2026
Reviewed by Mary Alderson