By Peter Maddern
From afar great success often seems so effortless and obvious but when the stories involved get told things often are more complicated and the joys of success can seem more legitimate, more earned.
The story of Franki Valli and his three mates, who together became the Four Seasons and for this production, The Jersey Boys is another where serendipity plays a large role but an abundance of talent, at least for a couple of the quartet, sits at the core of the phenomenon. Three hungry, randy teenagers spy greatness and girls through the end of a microphone and happen upon a great song writing talent (in Bob Gaudio) that can deliver on the vision.
Their years together, making it and breaking it and prevailing (at least for Valli and Gaudio) have all the elements of a great story. The music they created, like few other groups that started when they did, has survived now two whole generations and seems likely to comfortably make it through another.
The Jersey Boys production is as good a modern musical as you will see. As mentioned, the story is excellent, bolstered by its authenticity, but it is the music that separates this from its peers – it seems impossible now that one could compare A Chorus Line to this in regards to quality and entertainment. Hit after hit, melodies to get your feet tapping, hands clapping and mind wondering back into one’s past just keep coming.
No expense and element of professionalism is spared in this production with live music, quality singing and acting and a staging that seems infinitely flexible. So good were the performances of Valli and Gaudio by Jeff Madden and Bob Declan respectively that one almost believed they were their characters brought back from 50 years ago.
Anyone who is a fan of Four Seasons music or musical theatre would be a fool to miss out on The Jersey Boys – simply this is a theatrical highlight of this year and for a great many others as well.
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