“Jersey Boys” is a show you can see over and over and never tire of the music, story or presentation.
The story, told with the striking falsetto voice of Frankie Valli, is of the young group from New Jersey’s lower mobster class and how they persevered and became the top group of the 60’s.
The story is told from the view point of each of the four. Writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice took a true story and created a unique musical using all the follies and foibles of a famous group without pulling the usual punches. “Jersey Boys” tells it like “it was, and is”.
It is a refreshing departure from the usual fluffy bios of other musicals of famous individuals and groups. Director Des McAnuff moves his people at a swift pace and brings in a tight fast moving production that needs seat belts.
When the curtain rises and the music starts – hold on, the audience boards a runaway freight train thanks to the heavy-duty speakers by Steve Canyon Kennedy, who creates a great non-ear bending sound. So many of shows of this ilk blast the sound out of the atmosphere and leave the audience with their ears ringing for a week. The man on the soundboard for this performance should receive an award. The beat was still there – you could “feel” the music and really hear it as it was meant to be heard.
And then there is the music – the genius of Bob Guadio and lyricist Bob Crewe – that roll over the theatre like a smooth martini. “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like A Man”. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”, “Sherry”, ‘Short Shorts”, “Earth Angel”, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”, created nostalgia with the two generation opening night audience that was infectious and bonding. Some of the audience sang along.
Consider that ”The Four Seasons” sold over 175 million records throughout the world before any of them were 30, and the Broadway production of “Jersey Boys” in 2005 won just about every award offered including Tony’s and Grammys.
The performance features a dedicated strong cast with Aaron De Jesus as Frankie Valli with a falsetto that is reminiscent of another time and place, and Drew Seeley as a business genius songwriter. Metthew Dailey as the insidious, irrepressible, controlling Tommy DeVito brings just the right amount of frustrating angst to his character. Keith Hines plays Nick Massi with just the right touch of a non-confronting, frustrated behavior. Massi passed away a few years ago
The story is about Frankie Valli and the creating of the “Four Seasons”, their crawling to the top and making it big in the music world told from the insight of each of the people involved. At one point early in their career Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio make a pact that they will share all of their profits 50/50 on anything they do throughout their lifetime – they simply shook hands on the deal. They are still recognizing their agreement to this day.
Klara Zieglerova’s two leveled sets and Jess Goldstein’s glitzy costumes are a perfect fit. Sergio Trujillo’s classy choreography is really impressive. The song numbers are enhanced by his complete exact together movements of each of the actors from the drop of a heel to the swing of their bodies and arms when they perform the songs.
“Jersey Boys” will bring back fond memories for some and open a new door to a special music for others. This is a show you will remember and want to see again and again.
“Jersey Boys”
Where: Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco
Running Time: 2 hours and thirty minutes with one fifteen minute intermission
Through: Feb. 14
For tickets and information: Call (888) 746-1799 o r visit www.shnsf.com
