Carole Who?

Dear Mom, 

Kurt sent me a text yesterday to see if I'd like to be his guest for Beautiful, the new Carole King show. He has friends in the theater industry who often get him tickets. 

"Well, I don't actually know who she is, but if that does not disqualify me...sure!" I texted back. 

"Tapestry?" he replied. "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman? You've Got a Friend?"

"Oh, boy! OK, cool!" I responded. "I'll try not to sing along." 

He popped by for an early supper of Neil's delicious quiche and brought some salad greens. I also served some of the fruit from the Edible Arrangement I got from my sweet colleague Andrea. We used your Waterford flutes for a champagne toast. 

The show is AMAZING! You would have loved it. It made me think of how much fun I had at Motown with Mark and Patsy and how much I wished you'd been there. Same thing!

Here's the summary from the show website:

LONG BEFORE SHE WAS CAROLE KING, CHART-TOPPING MUSIC LEGEND, SHE WAS CAROL KLEIN, BROOKLYN GIRL WITH PASSION AND CHUTZPAH.

She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock 'n' roll. But it wasn't until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice.

BEAUTIFUL tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than BEAUTIFUL music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

It was SO MUCH FUN to hear all of the hits she wrote for the Shirrelles, Drifters, Righteous Brothers, etc. (And who else in Quincy still thinks of Alice and Julia's weddings when they hear the Drifters?!)

I also got a lot out of seeing the way she fought so hard to make her marriage work...and was so worried losing her marriage would mean losing her career...but then as a single mom she literally found her voice and shined brighter than ever. The show opens with an epigram along the lines of, "Just because life doesn't turn out the way you thought it would doesn't mean that it can't be BEAUTIFUL." 

Remind you of anyone else we know? Maybe you couldn't ever see it, but more and more, I can.

It was just what I needed today, as I had a harder time at the office than I did yesterday. I just felt tired and sad. I left early to take a nap. And then there was Kurt to lift me up, just when I needed it.

"Ain't it good to know you've got a friend," they sang in the show. It is good to know I have friends. But I sure do miss my friend Cheryl.

I wish you were here, Mom.

Saudade,

Lynsley

P.S. Do you remember that Kurt's mom is named Carol? She called right before we sat down for supper. I'm glad I got to meet her. I wish you had!

P.P.S. Here's a list of the songs:

FEATURING:

So Far Away
Oh Carol
1650 Broadway Medley
It Might As Well Rain until September
Be-Bop-A-Lula
Some Kind of Wonderful
Happy Days Are Here Again
Take Good Care of My Baby
Who Put the Bomp
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
He's Sure the Boy I Love
Up on the Roof
On Broadway
Locomotion
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
One Fine Day
Chains
Walking in the Rain
Pleasant Valley Sunday
We Gotta Get out of This Place
Uptown
It's Too Late
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Beautiful
I Feel the Earth Move