Broadway In Tucson's Neil Diamond musical is so good, so good, so good

It seems hard to believe that the man who wrote the infectious and enduring pop song “Sweet Caroline,” with its irresistible “so good, so good, so good” sing-along chorus, was ever anything but optimistic and cheerful.

But that’s the picture playwright Anthony McCarten paints in his bio-musical “A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical,” that opened its five-day Broadway In Tucson run at Centennial Hall on Tuesday.

McCarten (screenwriter of the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”) gives us a split-screen view inside Diamond’s career and life, framing the show between present-day Neil’s armchair therapy sessions and yesterday Neil’s journey of self-doubt and loneliness as he navigates the path to pop stardom.

The show is choreographed like flashbacks fading in and out of the therapy sessions, with present-day Neil conjuring up his younger self in scenes that expose his Debbie Downer mindset about his talent and future.

It’s not often that a jukebox musical shows us a side of the musician we didn’t see coming, and for many of those in Tuesday’s mostly north-of middle-aged audience singing along to the nearly 30 Neil Diamond songs, it’s a safe bet very few knew anything about the singer beyond his chart success.

In recent shows of the jukebox genre that Broadway In Tucson has brought to Centennial Hall, including “MJ: The Musical” in spring 2024 and “The Tina Turner Musical” that same season, we didn’t learn anything we hadn’t already known.

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But “A Beautiful Noise” introduces us to Neil’s youthful insecurities and his present-day depression and anxiety as he comes to terms with his Parkinson’s diagnosis and loss of his stage life.

We saw present-day Neil’s angst and frustration about the end of his stage life through an emotionally charged performance from Tony-nominated veteran Broadway actor Robert Westenberg as the persistent therapist (a funny and heartfelt performance by veteran stage and film actress Lisa Reneé Pitts) coaxes him to find his truth in his lyrics.

Yesterday Neil makes no attempts to mask his loneliness and insecurity even as his first wife (Tiffany Tatreau) and producer Ellie Greenwich (the very funny Kate A. Mulligan) try to convince him that he is good. Joe Caskey was terrific at walking his character’s fine lines between over-sentimentalizing his loneliness and being too aloof.

But it was Caskey’s voice that was the standout. There was something about his phrasing and the depth and nuance of his baritone that was reminiscent of Neil Diamond without trying to mimic the singer. He sounded just enough like the real deal when he was singing those fabulous hits — “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I’m A Believer,” “Hello Again,” “Kentucky Woman,” “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “America,” “I Am I Said” and “”Look On (Here Comes Tomorrow)” — to remind us of seeing Neil Diamond live once upon a lifetime ago, but inserted his own interpretation that added new context.

Ellen McGihon brought humor, a powerhouse voice and mad dance skills to her role as wife No. 2 Marcia Murphey, while the vocally exceptional ensemble cast was outstanding from that first scene when they appeared out of nowhere from behind the armchair to the sing-along finale that included “America” and “Sweet Caroline.”

“A Beautiful Noise” continues at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. on the University of Arizona campus, through Sunday. For showtimes and tickets, visit broadwayintucson.com.