So I recently went to see Jersey Boys, after wanting to see it since before it started in Melbourne. It most certainly did not disappoint. As a jukebox musical, I was skeptical as to the quality of the story. I've seen many jukebox musicals where the music is great, but the story just doesn't make the cut (Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, Return to the Forbidden Planet). Jersey Boys; however, uses the actual story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to progress the narrative. The reason it works so well, is that their story is an incredibly interesting one. Coming from New Jersey, the members of the Four Seasons were in and out of jail, and either had the choice of joining the army, joining the mob or "becoming a star". Despite the interesting background, the story of how the Four Seasons came to become famous is also of interest, as they did not simply become a breakout hit overnight, it took a number of years something that people often forget. However, the music itself also surprises you, as many of their hits you just don't realise were from the Four Seasons.
The Australian Cast of Jersey Boys (from left to right: Stephen Mahy, Bobby Fox, Glaston Toft, Scott Johnson)
In terms of performances, the cast was stunning. Bobby Fox, who plays Frankie Valli, hit Valli's falsetto spot on every time. He also carried the role with a true sense of Valli's background and values. Scott Johnson, who plays the creator of the band Tommy Devito, maintained a true sense of the Jersey accent, and remained a strong force throughout the show. Stephen Mahy played Bob Gaudio, the star songwriter of the group. Gaudio was a young star, co-writing Short Shorts in 1957 when he was just 15. Mahy manages to accurately depict Gaudio's young innocence as the youngest member of the group. Finally, Glaston Toft, as Nick Massi, provides the comic relief throughout the show, with a number of one liners.
Bobby Fox singing Can't Take My Eyes Off You
The music is spectacular. It is truly surprising how many of the songs you recognise, and how enjoyable the songs you don't recognise are. There were a number of songs where the crowd would continue clapping and cheering, despite being in the middle of the show. It was a real experience with all the positive energy coming from the crowd. Personal highlights are of course the Four Seasons hits like Walk Like a Man, Big Girls' Don't Cry, Sherry and December 1963 (Oh What a Night). Another highlight was Beggin, a song that seamlessly tied in with the story line, while also being a strong piece that makes you want to dance.
Technically, the show was beautiful. A giant metallic set changed locations with ease. Three large screens framed the top of the stage with pop art images and shots from the Four Seasons television appearances. The lighting beautifully framed the whole show. Not only did the lighting reflect the emotion of each scene, it also reflected the natural lighting of the scene, making for a realistic yet artistic lighting design. Sound was also beautifully done, with the music perfectly miked to make the appearance of being at a Four Seasons concert, but without bursting your eardrums (I've been to shows where this almost happened) A large cyclorama at the back of the set, combined with a removable chain link fence also added to the emotion and the progression of the story. Not to mention the beautifully 60's costumes. All the characters looked their best in a number of crafted 60's suits. Similarly, the girls were also dressed impeccably. It was like watching a live episode of Mad Men with music.
The whole Cast in the Finale
All in all, it was a great night's entertainment and will leave you singing the songs for days to come.
Jersey's Boys is on at the Princess theatre until 25 July, definitely try and get a ticket if you can.
Here is a taste of the original broadway cast:
