Terrence

Tonight I went into the city to see the Broadway show Jersey Boys.  Jersey Boys is a musical that encompasses the rise to fame of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, one of the defining groups of "oldies" music.

The musical was awesome on so many levels.  First off, the actors that played the Four Seasons were superb.  They had dynamite voices, great harmony, and their acting was more than solid.  The Jersey accents were even spot on.  Tommy DeVito, a bandmember and the narrator of the first act of the play, really stood out with an extremely engaging performance.  Throughout the play, he would frequently address the audience, bringing us a little closer to the world of the Jersey Boys.

The first act of the play was fantastic.  Song after song was performed, all the while revealing the story of how the Four Seasons (or one of the numerous names they first went by) became one of the most popular acts in the country.  The actor that played Frankie Vallie was extraordinary.  In just a short time, he morphed from a young, shy talent into the biggest star on the airwaves.  He nailed every song with the same pitch and panache of the real Frankie Valli, from Sherry to Big Girls Don't Cry.  Thanks largely to his talents and those of the last addition to the group, songwriter Bob Gaudio, the group went from not being able to book a gig in a bowling alley to headlining American Bandstand.

As is the case with nearly all things, though, Jersey Boys has a dark side, one that becomes increasingly evident in the second act of the play.  Bandmates struggle co-existing amid fame and fortune, and we get brief peeks into the deteriorating family lives that each one leads.  Tommy accrues a massive gambling debt, Frankie never spends time with his family thanks to the constant demands of the band, and Nick Massio (the fourth member) just can't take the whole thing anymore.  Even though the play allows us a glimpse of more than just the sunshiny aspects of the Jersey Boys' careers, it still retains the charm and theme of underdog success that the first act presented us with, albeit in a more somber manner.  When Frankie's daughter dies near the end of the play, it does more than show us his failings as a father; it shows us his successes in escaping the down and dirty life that Jersey presented for those without a way out.  The way in which he reacted to the news made it all the more poignant.  Despite his shortcomings, deep down he really is a man of substance.

Jersey Boys is made even better by its writing and direction.  The choice to use the band members as narrators throughout the play is an interesting one, and it really helps humanize each character.  Each set change was quick and seamless, and the directorial choices, while sometimes against the grain, worked.  For instance, there are two scenes in particular: one at the end of the first act when The Four Seasons have hit it big, and one near the end of the second act after the death of Frannie, Frankie's daughter, in which the actors face away from the audience.  Despite that similarity, both scenes are strikingly different.  The first is during a performance under the bright lights, a very public show, while the second is during a private conversation between Frankie and Sam.  These choices shut the audience out, mimicking (I think) the way the band member's families felt.  At the same time that we felt so drawn to the Jersey Boys, it seemed like they wanted to keep us at a slight distance.

By the time the performance was done, the audience had been taken on a roller coaster ride.  At different points in the play, one could easily find reasons to both love and hate each character.  The end scene, though, brought it all together.  Taking place decades later at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the scene is the first reunion of all four bandmates.  Despite their past differences, they are able to come together one more time to celebrate what they have accomplished.  Every member of the audience stood up and cheered as The Four Seasons performed one last song together.  Problems and issues aside, the Jersey Boys are worth cheering for the whole way.