Jersey Boys

Editorial

When: From 20 June, 2009. Closing on 25 July 2010
Times: Tues 7pm, Wed 1pm & 8pm, Thu 8pm, Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm & 8pm, Sun 3 pm
Where: Princess Theatre, 163 Spring St Melbourne
Bookings: Ticketek  1300 795 012 or visit ticketek outlet

If you think Jersey Boys is a rocking ride that simply belts out nostalgic hits, then think again. Great music is at the helm of Jersey Boys but it is also a wonderful musical biography that leaves you knowing a whole lot more about four guys from Jersey known as The Four Seasons.

Born on the wrong side of the tracks, The Four Seasons travelled a bumpy path on the way to stardom. It’s a fascinating insight into what went wrong – and right in their lives. They were in and out of jail, had familial issues and problems with the mob – and Jersey Boys serves up their complicated stories on a musical platter, ready to be eagerly devoured by audiences of all ages.

And what uplifting music it is too – music that lifted four blue collar boys out of a sleazy world of crime and propelled them to be one of the biggest boy bands of the ‘60s. Fantastic numbers like Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man, Bye Bye Baby will have you tapping your toes (or in my case, singing out loud), regardless of where and when your musical influences lie.

There’s no getting around the fact that the real Frankie Valli had an extraordinary voice and finding the right person to fill his falsetto shoes would have been quite a task. Casting the very talented Bobby Fox was an inspired choice. With fellow Seasons’ members Scott Johnson (Tommy DeVito), Glaston Toft (Nick Massi), and Stephen Mahy (Bob Gaudio), he delivers a slick performance with a lot of heart.

I suspect that many people who, like I, didn’t live through this era, would be surprised at the familiarity of this music. Mums, dads, kids, musical aficionados – there aren’t a lot of people who’ll be disappointed with Jersey Boys. And they’ll be singing Sherry all the way home.

Judith Hatton, Citysearch

Get your tickets: Jersey Boys closes its Melbourne doors on 25 July 2010 and opens in Sydney on 18 September 2010.