You don't have to spend a fortune flying to New York City to see a quality, spectacular Broadway musical. Broadway in Chicago has brought a wonderful, slickly produced, superbly performed and deeply moving musical to the Second City and it should not be missed. Full of familiar songs Baby Boomers especially will recognize, like "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man," "Dawn," "Rag Doll" and 29 others, this gritty biography traces the Newark origins and the personal and professional ups and downs of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
There are several good reasons why this 2006 Tony winner for Best Musical, both Best Actor and Featured Actor in a Musical and Best Lighting Design stands out from the others. First, it's one of the few shows that actually gives the term "jukebox musical" a good name. Instead of fashioning a trite story around a bunch of pop songs, as so many have, this musical smartly allows the songs to emerge chronologically and effortlessly. The songs also provide dramatic context as the pop quartet evolves, hiring and losing performers, exploring and finding its own unique sound and then rising to become the musical voice of the 1960s and '70s working class.
Exciting, high-tech lighting and colorful projections, costumes true to the era and scenes that flow seamlessly from one to the next all contribute to the magic of this production. The live musical accompaniment, often provided by the actors themselves, is arranged just the way you remember hearing it on your old 45 records. The brilliant close vocal blends provided by Michael Ingersoll, Drew Gehling, Jeremy Kushnier and, especially, Jarrod Spector as Frankie Valli truly capture the voices of The Four Seasons. These four young performers equally shine as very moving, convincing characters, as well as singers, and they are supported by a talented and versatile ensemble who play everything from mob bosses to pop girl singing groups.
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice's book tells the group's story without shying away from any of the undesirable aspects, the sometimes crude language or the pain and sorrow that these boys from Jersey faced. And Des McAnuff's dynamic direction is always well-paced, moving the story forward to the present while keeping the characters from becoming caricatures. The opening night audience was brought to its feet at least four times, stopping the show with enthusiastic, well-deserved applause. To quote The Four Seasons' opening number, "Oh What a Night!"
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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