Anyone who grew up in the 1960s and couldn’t get enough of the songs of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons will not want to miss the Broadway mega hit Jersey Boys, playing at the Landmark Theater. Younger music lovers – and yes, their kids – will not only be surprised by how much of the show’s repertoire they know, but also swept back into an age of music and a genre that’s both endearing and artful.
The Tony award-winning show chronicles the history of the group from its inception to its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. In their heyday, the four original members – Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi – put out countless hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like a Man.”
Because entertainers weren’t under as much scrutiny back then as they are today, fans may be surprised at the insight they get from this intimate behind-the-scenes peek at the legendary group. The show exposes their individual strengths, weaknesses, and demons of the group’s members with both humor and drama.
The group’s rise to fame was due primarily to the partnership between lead singer Frankie Valli and songwriter/keyboardist Bob Gaudio who wrote most of the group’s hits as well as Valli’s legendary “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
Jersey Boys strength lies not only in the precise harmonizing of the four leads and the crowd-pleasing music but also in its rapid-fire pace. Scenes change seamlessly in the midst of action without missing a beat. The narrative tale told by each member of the group flows as pleasingly as the songs it highlights.
Theater diehards who look for a story with depth and complexity may feel as though the show leans more toward the music than the story. But that’s the whole point of the show isn’t it? To spotlight the music. And it does that with such energy and enthusiasm that you’ll be singing and dancing in your seat.
Nicolas Dromard plays the cocky Tommy DeVito with true Jersey grit and style. Adam Zelasko takes the back seat in his role as Nick Massi until the end when he elicits some of the biggest laughs of the night. Jason Kappus gives a great performance as the younger and more cerebral Bob Gaudio. He has all the right elements – sincerity, talent, and great timing. He’s a pure joy to watch and listen to with his smooth voice. Hayden Milanes slips into the role of Frankie Valli with ease and comfort. He delivers a mesmerizing performance that is spot on. When the four singers get together, the sound is flawless, just like the original.
Kudos go to the pop-art style set that streams in real video from the past to combine with real-time stage performance, dramatically taking you from the television screen of the sixties to the present moment.
“Jersey Boys” is not to be missed, especially if you are a baby boomer who grew up with the music. You’ll find yourself moving to the beat and singing along. And, at the end you may be dancing in the aisles.
The show runs through January 19 at the Landmark Theater. Visit Broadway in Richmond for showtimes and tickets.
Editor’s note: There are a few F-bombs throughout the show (it is Jersey after all!), one scene of drug use, and a light sexual encounter, but for the most part, teens thirteen and up can handle Jersey Boys, especially if they are familiar with – or like my teens, love oldies music.
Look into student rush tickets! Day of performance at box office, any available seat. With Student ID, get up to two tickets at $29 each – if no student ID, other proof of student status is requested, meaning high school students are also eligible for this discount.
