That sweet spot in theater, where an audience’s enthusiasm not only bolsters a show but becomes part of it, is in good form at Riverside Theatre’s exciting, professional production of “Jersey Boys.”
The musical, running through Jan. 28, serves up a bounty of hits for those who love the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. And it also offers up a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of four remarkable musicians and their hard-fought rise from street toughs to world-class stars.
The show opened on Broadway in 2005 and ran for a remarkable 12 years, receiving multiple award nominations and winning, among others, the Tony for Best Musical.
This is not a typical “jukebox” musical like you see with “Mamma Mia!” or even “Million Dollar Quartet,” which opened Riverside’s current season. The book is by writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.
Brickman garnered some of the behind-the-scenes knowledge while playing banjo in a 1960s group, the New Journeymen, which was a forerunner of the Mamas and the Papas. As a storyteller, Brickman was a head writer for Johnny Carson and Dick Cavett, and worked with Woody Allen in writing scripts for movies such as “Sleeper” and “Annie Hall.”
After “Jersey Boys,” he and Elice wrote the book for “The Addams Family.” Elice later was nominated for a Tony Award for “Peter and the Star Catcher.”
So, yes, there is a well-crafted story that lifts the show into the category of a proper musical.
The plot begins in 1961, in crime-ridden Belleville, N.J., with Tommy DeVito, the group’s organizer – that is when he wasn’t robbing jewelry stores or taking dicey loans from sharks.
DeVito tells the audience, “You’re from my neighborhood you got three ways out. You could join the army, you could get mobbed up, or you could become a star.”
Desirous of the latter, DeVito, his brother Nick and friend Nick Massi form a trio and the next moment, DeVito’s heading to jail for six months, where his brother already is, for a petty crime.
A couple of beats later and DeVito has returned. He discovers and nurtures teenager Frankie Castelluccio (Valli), and, introduced to him by his friend Joe Pesci (yes, that Pesci), brings on songwriter Bob Gaudio. Gaudio had written “Short Shorts” and worries he’s a one-hit wonder.
Then, in 1962, after a litany of doors have slammed shut in their faces, Gaudio writes “Sherry” and the group takes off, creating more than 25 hits in only five years.
More story lines involve love, mounting success, betrayal and parenthood. We see that the rise, fall and rise again was not a smooth one and, in fact, had plenty of heartbreak.
But make no mistake, the audience is there for the music and this production, directed by Gayle Seay, delivers big time. And no wonder. Seay has done it all, and continues to do so, from performing to casting to producing. She knows how to please an audience.
Don’t be surprised to see a sea of seniors in the audience rising to their feet and dancing to songs like “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Let’s Hang On” and “Who Loves You?”
The cast is terrific as they sail so musically through the songs and deliver tight precision in their dance moves. Brent DiRoma brings a steamy toughness to Tommy DeVito. Jason Michael Evans shows us the funny side to Nick Massi. Danny McHugh is spot-on as Bob Gaudio, a talent on both the artistic and business side of show biz.
But as expected, it’s Trevor James who steals the show as Frankie Valli. He’s got the perfect voice and moves, and has that showstopping stage presence as well, especially in “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Moreover, he’s got that actorly quality that finds the deeper spots to the character, prompting more than one tear from the audience.
Music director Michael Kaish and choreographer Dena DiGiacinto really hit the mark with this show. It has such a big, great sound and movement that it easily transcends into concert.
Peter Barbieri creates an industrial kind of set evocative of the blue-collar era that gave rise to the Four Seasons. Costume designer Brad Musgrove brings a solid array of those Jersey-style ‘threads,’ including plenty of shiny sharkskin suits.
Julie Duro’s lighting design leads our focus perfectly and Craig Beyrooti’s sound design is as exact as the musical performances on stage.
The only thing we wanted more of were the real behind-the-scene musicians – the pit orchestra, who make an appearance as a bit of an afterthought at the end of the show. They are so perfect we want to actually see them sooner.
There’s so much to enjoy in this show. It is fun, musical and very nostalgic for a time when beat, melody and lyrics were king.
“Jersey Boys” runs through Jan. 28 at Riverside Theatre, 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Wednesdays, select Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at $45. For more information, call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
Photos provided
