Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, with over 30 of their hits including ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t cry’, ‘Walk Like a Man’, ‘Rag Doll’, ‘Can’t take my eyes off You’ and ‘Oh What a Night’ you are left amazed at just how many familiar songs the group are responsible for! Although known as a jukebox musical jersey Boys is far more than that. Rather than merely being a scantily linked storyline that fits around the back catalogue of hits, Jersey Boys has an autobiographical script told in turn by each of the founding four members. Their viewpoints span the decades starting with the early days of the 1950’s in New Jersey narrated by Tommy Devito to the final stage collaboration in the 1990’s as the group were induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Frankie Valli, Nick Massi and Bob Gaudio tell us of the highs and lows of fame, the unofficial dealings with the Mob, debt, petty crime, egos and the price of fame on relationships and family. Set this, often heart-breaking reality, to the soundtrack of a generation, then use the music to successfully advance the plot as well as truncate it and you have Jersey Boys.
With a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, composed by the legendary Bob Gaudio with lyrics by Bob Crewe and direction by Des McAnuff the Four Seasons untold story is laid bare before us. Add to this sharp and skilful choreography by Sergio Trujillo, Musical arrangements by Ron Melrose, a very functional scaffolding set by Klara Zieglerova and authentic and now iconic costumes by Jess Goldstein and you have a time served and very successful production that continues to delight audiences both in London and on tour around the country.
The touring production has a smaller cast than its resident sister however, the ensemble aid the slick and effortless transitions of time and place, portraying an almost sub text of the ’bumpy road’ to fame and later ‘touring’, one that is never still, always changing and never without speedy twists and turns. The ensemble play multiple characters and the speed of the costume changes from the whole cast are jaw dropping at times! The main Quartet were very much a team, all individual but very much together, with performances that are self-assured, confident and oozing the much needed stage chemistry. Vocally this quartet are required to be and are, flawless. Michael Pickering takes on the lead role of Frankie Valli with aplomb and although there were a few sound issues resulting in hard to hear spoken word and unbalanced musical numbers in the first act (which Head of Sound Morgan Rogers and team got under control by the start of the second act) Pickering delivered a stellar and believable performance – his nasal falsetto sweetly hitting the required heights! Christopher Short plays a stylish, sultry, all enduring Nick Massi with bass notes to melt all. Blair Gibson would get my biggest thumbs up of the evening with an exceptionally energetic, yet realistically relaxed portrayal of the self-assured geek Bob Gaudio. Dalton Wood as Tommy Devito has the cheeky charm, yet the constant under laying threat of the original initiator of the band – a loose cannon.
On the night I saw the show Olly Manley played the role of Joey Pesci flawlessly. Oh, and please keep an eye out for Damien Winchester’s cameo performances and exceptional vocal gymnastics – wow!
Jersey Boys has been for a while now, and still is, a wonderfully eye opening, enlightening, entertaining and nostalgic night of how Juke box musicals can be when done when in the hands of a team with an edgy artistic touch. Do not miss this show, Jersey Boys is at the Sheffield Lyceum until Saturday the 4th March 2023 and sorry for the cliché but ‘Oh What a night’ you will have!
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/jersey-boys
Reviewer: Tracey Bell
Reviewed: 22nd February 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★★