THEATER REVIEW
"Jersey Boys"
4 stars of 4
It's rare for a touring Broadway musical to spend five weeks in Boston, let alone 10.
But "Jersey Boys" should have no problem keeping the Shubert Theatre packed during its stay in the Hub. It's a very special show.
The story traces the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, the famed quartet that delivered the hits "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like A Man," among many, many others.
As a reviewer, I've seen some pretty tough crowds come out for Boston theater. Standing ovations don't come with every show, and I've never heard audience members heap on praise while leaving a crowded theater.
Both of these things happened the night I saw "Jersey Boys," and can say each was well deserved for this Tony winner.
This show's formula is a big reason for its success. The first part of that equation comes from the music. The production incorporates 33 of the Four Seasons' songs, including five No. 1 hits and 10 more that made it to Billboard's Top 10. These tunes capture an era so well, ensuring that these Jersey Boys would be remembered long after their tracks faded from the charts.
The second part of that successful formula comes from the show's compelling plot, a realistic look at the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons story.
Unlike "Smokey Joe's Cafe," more pop musical revue than a musical, or "Mamma Mia," which uses the songs of Swedish supergroup ABBA to accompany a story completely unrelated to the music, "Jersey Boys" melds the real story and the music. It's like a "Behind the Music" documentary of the quartet.
The show begins with the soon-to-be Four Seasons — Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito , Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi — struggling to make ends meet, getting in trouble with the law, and schmoozing local Wise Guys.
It follows their journey to stardom, from crafting their early hits to the equally early fights over money. This is no glossed-over version of the Four Seasons story. It shows the band members with their graces and flaws.
In the end, "Jersey Boys" leaves the audience with a sense of the impact they made on music and American culture. It's a moving journey, for those who were there to see and for those who discovered the music generations later.
The four actors who play the Seasons — Matt Bailey, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Josh Franklin and Steve Gouveia — believably personify their characters who came from a tough neighborhood, find stardom in music, yet can't leave that neighborhood behind.
What's truly stunning about these four is how much they sound like the Four Seasons. The harmonies sound so realistic, close your eyes, you're at a Four Seasons concert.
Bwarie in particular stood out, because he so accurately captured Valli's signature falsetto, no easy feat. Bwarie even develops his falsetto over the course of the show; it's shrill in the beginning, then matures.
I am still in awe.
The sets are bare and functional. One set can be anything from a night club, to a bowling alley, to a police precinct. Kudos to set designer Klara Zieglerova for getting so much from so little equipment.
There is plenty of time to catch "Jersey Boys" before it heads to another city. Don't miss it.
If You Go
What: "Jersey Boys."
When: Through Sept. 26.
Where: Shubert Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston.
How: Tickets cost $49 to $109. Visit the box office, call 866-348-9738, or go to www.telecharge.com for tickets.
