Market Theatre’s Carol King Tribute a Beautiful Concert
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
“Pictures are forming inside my brain/Soon with the colors they'll rain together and grow/Then don't you know, don't you know there'll be music/Ah, it's not always easy/But the music keeps playing/And won't let the world get me down/Music is playing inside my head.” – “Music,” Carol King
For those of a certain age, the music of Carol King is a part of the soundtrack of your life. King’s voice was a staple of radio from the late 1960s-early 1980s, and her 1971 album “Tapestry,” with sales of more than 30 million, remains one of the top-selling albums by a female vocalist. Her long string of hits are seminal to music of the last 50 years, influencing many of today’s artists as new generations continue to gain a new appreciation for her work.
Anderson’s Market Theatre is offering a taste of King’s music in the one-weekend only: “A Natural Woman: A Carol King Tribute Concert.”
The vibe of the show is as mellow and cool as King’s music, led by the lead performance of Ashley Wettlin, who pays homage to the great singer without giving into the temptation to impersonate King, offering her own vocal talents as a tribute to the songs.
Wettlin takes the audience through a light history of King and her work, effortlessly working the audience into participation in some of the songs while keeping things both entertaining and low-key. Wettlin has a natural stage presence, and a voice well-suited for King’s catalog.
While she is most at home in her lower register (though her upper register carries a Linda Ronstadt tone), Wettlin makes the 90-minute concert seem effortless and leaves everyone wishing for a few more of King’s favorites.
When taking a turn at the keyboard, her voice is even mellower and warm, bringing an uncommon depth to the usual tribute-to-an-artist fare.
Her backup singers (who also perform solos), Rose Mullin and Emma Schendel, whom she insists are not only her two best friends but her only two friends, add an additional layer of satisfaction to the night’s performance.
Schendel, who many might recognize from her work in Upstate theater productions, brings a buttery smooth vocal to her performance of King’s work, while Mullin, also a veteran of Market Theatre productions, offers a subtle tone in her solos that works well.
Some of the best and most energetic moments, though, are when the three women perform together, often drawing the audience into the songs which so many in attendance seem to know by heart.
Simple instrumentation, by keyboardist Julie Florin, contributes to the intimate tribute concert, and one of Market Theatre’s most beautiful stagings, with 850 live flowers creating a space as inviting as a house concert by Carol King.
For those who need a little something to make their weekend better, this show will leave you feeling “Brighther.”
“But I think of the loving good times we've had/And I know we're gonna make it through
'Cause you make my day/A little bit brighter in every way.” “Brighter,” by Carol King
Two more chances to catch Market Theatre’s “A Natural Woman: A Carol King Tribute Concert,” Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets available here.
