Songs relive bittersweet memories in Neil Diamond musical

The producers of the NEIL DIAMOND musical, A Beautiful Noise faced a challenge when creating a show around the living legend – which of his numerous chart-topping hits from a career that began in the 1960s would they feature.

Fortunately, the musical that opened on Broadway in 2022 and had its Australian premiere at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre on August 8 covers plenty of favourites that the audience loved.

The production is more than a concert – there’s plenty of drama and nostalgia, kicked off with an elderly Diamond (played by Australian actor Terence Crawford) reluctantly being interviewed by his therapist (Monica Sayers).

It’s a clever way of delivering Diamond’s life story, but once his short and surly answers give way to more expansive insights into life, love and the songwriting process, he endears himself to the audience.

However, it’s the classic hit songs that audiences have come to hear as American actor-singer Will Swenson takes centre stage reliving Diamond’s road to success – a role that he played to acclaim on Broadway.