REVIEW
Jersey Boys
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
TUE 4 – SAT 8 APRIL 2023
Jersey Boys
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
TUE 4 – SAT 8 APRIL 2023
‘Oh What a Night’
The boys are back in town. The Jersey Boys that is, and as usual they provide highly charged entertainment. The show was a great success in the West End, and the touring versions are always well received.
Writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice based the story for the musical on the interviews with the then surviving members of the original Four Seasons – Tommy DeVito, Frankie Valli and Bob Guido, and also include a section with Nick Massi who died in 2000.
The show narrated by Tommy DeVito (Dalton Wood) played as a tough guy hood, always in and out of prison, tells how he started the group with a couple of friends. He persuaded young and naïve Frankie Valli, well sung by Michael Pickering with the trademark falsetto, to join, and the rest is history. Well not quite, there were quite a few knocks and name changes along the way. That is until the group played at the Four Seasons lounge, took the name and met Bob Crewe (Michael Levi) an effete producer, who promises much, but initially uses them as backing singers. It is only when they threaten to walk that he releases their recording of Sherry and stars are born.
The group’s chronology is rather loose, but all the characters are well developed and believable. Although, Nick Massi (Christopher Short) is understandably not as well defined as the others. However, Short comes over well in the Fall sequence that unravels the complex relationship between De Vito and Valli. The former jealous of the fame of the young sixteen year old he tried to mould in his image, but who ended up outshining him. I also liked the quiet strength of Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio, who decides to quit touring and concentrate on writing the songs.
The show dwells at length on the early years of the quartet with songs of that era. Most people come to hear the famous hit songs, but the early years dwell more on bebop with a troupe of girls delivering a high-pitched rendition of Short Shorts. This had been a hit for Bob Guido, who thought he was a one hit wonder, before he joined the group, and then became their most successful songwriter.
The show is broken into the four seasons (what else?); the early years, and first success are Spring and Summer, then the breakdown of relationships in the group, and the gradual change into Frankie Valli being a successful solo artist, is Autumn and Winter.
Along the way there are falling outs, Tommy losing their money in gambling debts which involved mafia threats, broken marriages and the death of Frankie’s daughter from a drug overdose.
The audience all waited for the famous songs, and along they came. Walk Like a Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On, Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, and of course Oh What a Night, although it is a rap version sung in French as the opening to the show.
The songs tell the story and are interspersed throughout the narration. As a result, they are only sung in part, which is a little disappointing. Indeed, I heard the muttering of complaints from audience members, but if the songs had been sung in full, an already long show would have finally finished at midnight. However, when Michael Pickering delivered a complete and powerful rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, the audience came to life, cheered, and clapped with a few whistles and shouts. This song was one of Valli’s biggest hits and yet the record company didn’t like it and felt it wasn’t a good song to release. This proves that big record companies often aren’t the best judge of what the fans want.
Unusually, it was a remarkably restrained audience, but as there is a notice in the foyer saying that people are not allowed to sing along, that was probably why. However, as most people come to musical bio shows because they love the songs, know all the words, and part of the fun is singing along, I thought that was a little mean of the theatre. Even the West End lets people join in.
As they say in the show, the Four Seasons were not a social movement like the Beatles, who came along when the group were at the height of their success. Their fans were the ‘everyman’, the construction and factory workers, the common or garden man in the street. As a result, their success continued when others of that era faded away. At a time when the Beatles were the big new thing in the States, the Four Seasons went on the Ed Sullivan show and smashed it.
Their songs haven’t dated; they've been covered by many artists, and are just as popular today as they were in the sixties. What this show delivers is a brilliant celebration of the Four Seasons. There are over 30 featured numbers, used to tell the tale of the ups and downs of life in the music industry. It is a soundtrack for a generation.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The show continues:-
5th – 8 April performances 8pm Mat: Thurs & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets:
Premium Seats -£62.00
Price Band A £56.50
Price Band B £53.00
Price Band C £44.50
Restricted View Price Band C £44.50
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. SS0 7RA
Writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice based the story for the musical on the interviews with the then surviving members of the original Four Seasons – Tommy DeVito, Frankie Valli and Bob Guido, and also include a section with Nick Massi who died in 2000.
The show narrated by Tommy DeVito (Dalton Wood) played as a tough guy hood, always in and out of prison, tells how he started the group with a couple of friends. He persuaded young and naïve Frankie Valli, well sung by Michael Pickering with the trademark falsetto, to join, and the rest is history. Well not quite, there were quite a few knocks and name changes along the way. That is until the group played at the Four Seasons lounge, took the name and met Bob Crewe (Michael Levi) an effete producer, who promises much, but initially uses them as backing singers. It is only when they threaten to walk that he releases their recording of Sherry and stars are born.
The group’s chronology is rather loose, but all the characters are well developed and believable. Although, Nick Massi (Christopher Short) is understandably not as well defined as the others. However, Short comes over well in the Fall sequence that unravels the complex relationship between De Vito and Valli. The former jealous of the fame of the young sixteen year old he tried to mould in his image, but who ended up outshining him. I also liked the quiet strength of Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio, who decides to quit touring and concentrate on writing the songs.
The show dwells at length on the early years of the quartet with songs of that era. Most people come to hear the famous hit songs, but the early years dwell more on bebop with a troupe of girls delivering a high-pitched rendition of Short Shorts. This had been a hit for Bob Guido, who thought he was a one hit wonder, before he joined the group, and then became their most successful songwriter.
The show is broken into the four seasons (what else?); the early years, and first success are Spring and Summer, then the breakdown of relationships in the group, and the gradual change into Frankie Valli being a successful solo artist, is Autumn and Winter.
Along the way there are falling outs, Tommy losing their money in gambling debts which involved mafia threats, broken marriages and the death of Frankie’s daughter from a drug overdose.
The audience all waited for the famous songs, and along they came. Walk Like a Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, My Eyes Adored You, Let’s Hang On, Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, and of course Oh What a Night, although it is a rap version sung in French as the opening to the show.
The songs tell the story and are interspersed throughout the narration. As a result, they are only sung in part, which is a little disappointing. Indeed, I heard the muttering of complaints from audience members, but if the songs had been sung in full, an already long show would have finally finished at midnight. However, when Michael Pickering delivered a complete and powerful rendition of Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, the audience came to life, cheered, and clapped with a few whistles and shouts. This song was one of Valli’s biggest hits and yet the record company didn’t like it and felt it wasn’t a good song to release. This proves that big record companies often aren’t the best judge of what the fans want.
Unusually, it was a remarkably restrained audience, but as there is a notice in the foyer saying that people are not allowed to sing along, that was probably why. However, as most people come to musical bio shows because they love the songs, know all the words, and part of the fun is singing along, I thought that was a little mean of the theatre. Even the West End lets people join in.
As they say in the show, the Four Seasons were not a social movement like the Beatles, who came along when the group were at the height of their success. Their fans were the ‘everyman’, the construction and factory workers, the common or garden man in the street. As a result, their success continued when others of that era faded away. At a time when the Beatles were the big new thing in the States, the Four Seasons went on the Ed Sullivan show and smashed it.
Their songs haven’t dated; they've been covered by many artists, and are just as popular today as they were in the sixties. What this show delivers is a brilliant celebration of the Four Seasons. There are over 30 featured numbers, used to tell the tale of the ups and downs of life in the music industry. It is a soundtrack for a generation.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
The show continues:-
5th – 8 April performances 8pm Mat: Thurs & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets:
Premium Seats -£62.00
Price Band A £56.50
Price Band B £53.00
Price Band C £44.50
Restricted View Price Band C £44.50
Box Office: 0343 310 0030
Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex. SS0 7RA
The internationally acclaimed stage sensation, Jersey Boys is working its way back to Southend!
This smash hit musical has won 65 major awards and has been seen by over 27 million people worldwide.
They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The show features all their hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Oh What A Night, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Working My Way Back To You.
Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Olivier Award-winning, original Broadway sensation, Jersey Boys. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true.
This smash hit musical has won 65 major awards and has been seen by over 27 million people worldwide.
They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story—a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. The show features all their hits including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Oh What A Night, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Working My Way Back To You.
Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Olivier Award-winning, original Broadway sensation, Jersey Boys. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s too good to be true.
INTERVIEW
WITH STARS OF THE SHOW
Michael Pickering who plays Frankie Valli
Blair Gibson who plays Bob Gaudio
and Dalton Wood who plays Tommy DeVito
WITH STARS OF THE SHOW
Michael Pickering who plays Frankie Valli
Blair Gibson who plays Bob Gaudio
and Dalton Wood who plays Tommy DeVito
What can audiences expect when they come to see the show?
Dalton: They’re in for a fun-filled night with amazing music, on top of which, there’s a true and gritty story. It’s all-round entertainment.
Michael: It’s one of those shows where if someone says ‘My husband won’t come see a musical’ this is the one you bring them to because they’re going to love musicals after seeing it. Sometimes men get dragged along to it and they leave going ‘Oh my God that was amazing’. It’s a wonderful night out. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a more talented cast and crew so they can expect one of the most wonderful performances from one of the most talented teams I’ve ever worked with.
Is it just what audiences are craving right now, after all the lockdowns and restrictions?
Michael: Absolutely. It’s got such a great story, everyone loves the music, and it kind of relates to the world we’re living in at the moment because the Four Seasons went through such hard times yet they kept going. It’s an inspiring story and we all need that at the moment.
Why do you think there’s still such nostalgia for the music?
Michael: No-one has come close to touching it since. They had the four-part harmonies and Frankie’s unique falsetto, and they were a group - they were a team and a family, not some manufactured band. They loved what they did and they worked hard to get to the top.
Dalton: Frankie is still out there and still going strong, which helps keep the music alive as does the show. Beggin’ is a hit all over again, which is amazing, and all their music is just incredible. That’s why it keeps coming back round again and again.
Blair: The songs are classics. As Dalton says, Beggin’ is now one of the bestselling songs around the world and it originally came out in 1967. Their music is timeless.
How would you describe your respective characters in the show?
Michael: Frankie Valli has the biggest heart and a wonderful talent. What he lacks in stature he makes up for in heart and I think he falls on hard times because of how much he gives to his family and friends.
Blair: Bob is the composer who wrote all the songs for the Four Seasons as well as for other artists. He also had a role in the production side of things, especially later on in their careers. He’s very pragmatic and very logic-driven, which is what the group needed at the time, and it’s part of the reason they’re still big and still successful today.
Dalton: Tommy is the one who started the band. He has his issues; he’s a big gambler and gets into money troubles. But he’s the one that brought them all together and he’s such a big character to play.
There are so many great songs in the show. Do you have any favourites to perform?
Dalton: I love the big three, so that’s Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like a Man. Those were the group’s first big hits. We perform them one after another. The dance moves and the harmonies come out - they’re such fun to perform.
Michael: For me it’s Cry for Me, which comes quite early in the show. It shows the boys coming together one by one and it’s the first time they hit their harmonies and go ‘This is it’.
Blair: I love Let’s Hang On because it’s when they’ve come out of a period of darkness and angst and it’s all about the music again. We’re dancing around. [Laughs] The good old thigh slap.
It’s not just a jukebox musical, is it?
Dalton: It’s a play with songs because it tells their story. You get all the music everyone still loves and wants but you also get a gripping true story.
Blair: People come expecting the songs they know and love but they go away having learned something because not everyone knows the ins and outs of the plot. It’s almost like a documentary told by the band themselves. You get different points of view on the same story from these four people who are four very different guys. It’s a very dramatic narrative but also has that feel-good element. I feel good just doing it.
How is it being back on the road?
Dalton: It’s amazing! The UK is such an amazing place so getting to spend time in different towns, in so many beautiful theatres, is great. And we have such an incredible company so we’re in good hands.
Blair: It’s been really nice to perform again, especially in a show like this. It still has its trials and tribulations, of course. Touring in general does but even more so in a pandemic. But you figure it out as you go along and it’s a joy to be out there again. No matter what the size of the audience they’re always attentive. They care as much about the story as they do the songs.
Michael: Just being able to get on a train or drive a car somewhere is great within itself, given the fact we weren’t able to go anywhere for so long, but for me it’s more about the team I travel with and I couldn’t have hoped for a better team. It honestly feels like nothing can stop us. Obviously COVID is still out there but there’s nothing we can’t conquer. That feeling makes touring a delight.
Blair: I’ve done the show before but only on cruise ships, so it’s so nice touring the country and seeing different places and different theatres. Plus, on the ships, it was a trimmed-down version, whereas this is the full show with more script, more songs, more everything really.
How have audiences been so far?
Dalton: We’ve had standing ovations every night so far and fingers crossed that carries on. The reaction has been so positive and for us as performers it’s just nice to be back out there again after so long.
What do you hope people will feel when they leave the theatre?
Dalton: We end the show with such joyous numbers everyone knows, even if they weren’t around at the time they first came out. They’ll leave upbeat and happy. They’ll have had a fun, energising evening whilst learning a bit more about the Four Seasons’ story along the way.
Blair: It has peaks and valleys, with fun moments and some really dramatic ones. It gives you feel-good moments then brings you back down to earth before ending with Who Loves You – a song that everyone knows and which has everyone on their feet. I think they’ll leave feeling ecstatic but also surprised by what they’ve learned. We’ve had so many people say ‘We had no idea about the story, we just came for the music’. There’s a lot of appreciation, which is always nice to hear.
Are there any stops on the tour that are dear to your heart?
Michael: I was born in Sunderland, lived in Washington and went to college in Durham so Sunderland and Newcastle are like home turf. And I live in Dartford now so that will be a nice easy venue for me to get to and from.
Dalton: I grew up in Bradford and I’ve done shows there as an amateur with local youth groups but I’ve never performed at the Alhambra in a professional capacity before. That’s going to be really special, with family and friends coming along, and it will also be my birthday when we’re there.
Blair: I cannot wait to play Glasgow. I’m from in between Glasgow and Edinburgh and I’ve been to the King’s Theatre but I’ve never performed there. The audiences are always up for a good time in Glasgow. I’ve performed at Edinburgh Playhouse but only in amateur stuff. It’s a huge theatre and it’s gorgeous. We’re also doing Aberdeen, which is lovely, and Inverness, which is beautiful.
Dalton: They’re in for a fun-filled night with amazing music, on top of which, there’s a true and gritty story. It’s all-round entertainment.
Michael: It’s one of those shows where if someone says ‘My husband won’t come see a musical’ this is the one you bring them to because they’re going to love musicals after seeing it. Sometimes men get dragged along to it and they leave going ‘Oh my God that was amazing’. It’s a wonderful night out. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a more talented cast and crew so they can expect one of the most wonderful performances from one of the most talented teams I’ve ever worked with.
Is it just what audiences are craving right now, after all the lockdowns and restrictions?
Michael: Absolutely. It’s got such a great story, everyone loves the music, and it kind of relates to the world we’re living in at the moment because the Four Seasons went through such hard times yet they kept going. It’s an inspiring story and we all need that at the moment.
Why do you think there’s still such nostalgia for the music?
Michael: No-one has come close to touching it since. They had the four-part harmonies and Frankie’s unique falsetto, and they were a group - they were a team and a family, not some manufactured band. They loved what they did and they worked hard to get to the top.
Dalton: Frankie is still out there and still going strong, which helps keep the music alive as does the show. Beggin’ is a hit all over again, which is amazing, and all their music is just incredible. That’s why it keeps coming back round again and again.
Blair: The songs are classics. As Dalton says, Beggin’ is now one of the bestselling songs around the world and it originally came out in 1967. Their music is timeless.
How would you describe your respective characters in the show?
Michael: Frankie Valli has the biggest heart and a wonderful talent. What he lacks in stature he makes up for in heart and I think he falls on hard times because of how much he gives to his family and friends.
Blair: Bob is the composer who wrote all the songs for the Four Seasons as well as for other artists. He also had a role in the production side of things, especially later on in their careers. He’s very pragmatic and very logic-driven, which is what the group needed at the time, and it’s part of the reason they’re still big and still successful today.
Dalton: Tommy is the one who started the band. He has his issues; he’s a big gambler and gets into money troubles. But he’s the one that brought them all together and he’s such a big character to play.
There are so many great songs in the show. Do you have any favourites to perform?
Dalton: I love the big three, so that’s Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like a Man. Those were the group’s first big hits. We perform them one after another. The dance moves and the harmonies come out - they’re such fun to perform.
Michael: For me it’s Cry for Me, which comes quite early in the show. It shows the boys coming together one by one and it’s the first time they hit their harmonies and go ‘This is it’.
Blair: I love Let’s Hang On because it’s when they’ve come out of a period of darkness and angst and it’s all about the music again. We’re dancing around. [Laughs] The good old thigh slap.
It’s not just a jukebox musical, is it?
Dalton: It’s a play with songs because it tells their story. You get all the music everyone still loves and wants but you also get a gripping true story.
Blair: People come expecting the songs they know and love but they go away having learned something because not everyone knows the ins and outs of the plot. It’s almost like a documentary told by the band themselves. You get different points of view on the same story from these four people who are four very different guys. It’s a very dramatic narrative but also has that feel-good element. I feel good just doing it.
How is it being back on the road?
Dalton: It’s amazing! The UK is such an amazing place so getting to spend time in different towns, in so many beautiful theatres, is great. And we have such an incredible company so we’re in good hands.
Blair: It’s been really nice to perform again, especially in a show like this. It still has its trials and tribulations, of course. Touring in general does but even more so in a pandemic. But you figure it out as you go along and it’s a joy to be out there again. No matter what the size of the audience they’re always attentive. They care as much about the story as they do the songs.
Michael: Just being able to get on a train or drive a car somewhere is great within itself, given the fact we weren’t able to go anywhere for so long, but for me it’s more about the team I travel with and I couldn’t have hoped for a better team. It honestly feels like nothing can stop us. Obviously COVID is still out there but there’s nothing we can’t conquer. That feeling makes touring a delight.
Blair: I’ve done the show before but only on cruise ships, so it’s so nice touring the country and seeing different places and different theatres. Plus, on the ships, it was a trimmed-down version, whereas this is the full show with more script, more songs, more everything really.
How have audiences been so far?
Dalton: We’ve had standing ovations every night so far and fingers crossed that carries on. The reaction has been so positive and for us as performers it’s just nice to be back out there again after so long.
What do you hope people will feel when they leave the theatre?
Dalton: We end the show with such joyous numbers everyone knows, even if they weren’t around at the time they first came out. They’ll leave upbeat and happy. They’ll have had a fun, energising evening whilst learning a bit more about the Four Seasons’ story along the way.
Blair: It has peaks and valleys, with fun moments and some really dramatic ones. It gives you feel-good moments then brings you back down to earth before ending with Who Loves You – a song that everyone knows and which has everyone on their feet. I think they’ll leave feeling ecstatic but also surprised by what they’ve learned. We’ve had so many people say ‘We had no idea about the story, we just came for the music’. There’s a lot of appreciation, which is always nice to hear.
Are there any stops on the tour that are dear to your heart?
Michael: I was born in Sunderland, lived in Washington and went to college in Durham so Sunderland and Newcastle are like home turf. And I live in Dartford now so that will be a nice easy venue for me to get to and from.
Dalton: I grew up in Bradford and I’ve done shows there as an amateur with local youth groups but I’ve never performed at the Alhambra in a professional capacity before. That’s going to be really special, with family and friends coming along, and it will also be my birthday when we’re there.
Blair: I cannot wait to play Glasgow. I’m from in between Glasgow and Edinburgh and I’ve been to the King’s Theatre but I’ve never performed there. The audiences are always up for a good time in Glasgow. I’ve performed at Edinburgh Playhouse but only in amateur stuff. It’s a huge theatre and it’s gorgeous. We’re also doing Aberdeen, which is lovely, and Inverness, which is beautiful.