Jersey Boys continues at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley until 11 June 2022 and then tours until 18 March 2023.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Following the true life story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, this jukebox musical weaves the group’s most known and loved songs around the narrative of their rise to fame, including the personal and professional hurdles they encounter along the way.
Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice after consultations with the real life Four Seasons members during which “even as they would tell the same story again, it would be told differently”, the production effectively mirrors the push-pull nature of the band members’ relationships consistently simmering under the surface.
Though there is often friendly banter and jovial teasing, at times the audience sees how the tensions bubble over due to differences of opinion, or controversial decisions taken by individuals. The narrative is mostly carried by the character of Tommy DeVito, played in this production by Dalton Wood, but led by all four Jersey Boys at different points during the show. It is this amalgamation of perspectives that affords the audience a deeper holistic understanding of specific circumstances the group endure.
Representing characters originating from New Jersey of course requires commitment to the accent – perhaps one of the hardest to not only master accurately but also maintain for a two-hour show, and the majority of the cast demonstrates admirable stamina on this front. Special mention must be given to Blair Gibson and Lewis Griffiths in their portrayals of Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi respectively: while all four principal actors are excellently cast and embody the nuances of their characters, Gibson and Griffiths particularly succeed in maintaining their dialogue at an audible pace rather than allowing the speed and thickness of the accent to run away with them at times, as is occasionally the case with other company members.
If The Four Seasons are best known for their catchy songs and symphonic barbershop-style harmonies, then their slick choreography certainly comes a close second and the calibre of movement in this production is equally deserving of the same recognition. Sergio Trujillo’s choreography expertly reflects the style of the 1950s and comes across equally impressively whether showcasing The Four Seasons by themselves or within a larger scale number involving the whole company. The production is also very well partnered by an intelligent set and lighting design from Klara Zieglerova and Howell Binkley, drawing focus to small sections of the stage for more intimate moments and perhaps most impressively, fluidly executing scene transitions mid-song on several occasions.
Rewarded with almost a full house standing ovation on press night, this production combines top quality on-stage and backstage talent to effectively portray the ups and downs encountered on the road to fame for these four Jersey Boys.
Sorcha Exworthy
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