REVIEW: ‘Jersey Boys’ brings standing ovations throughout performance

From Feb. 7-9, the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts along with Broadway Across America had audiences roaring as they experienced the talented cast and crew of the 2019-2020 tour of “Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.”

This documentary-style, jukebox musical follows the creation (and later destruction) of the chart-topping group known for hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Working My Way Back to You” and “C’mon Marianne.” The Four Seasons not only charted dozens of hits but also survived and thrived during the “British Invasion” of the 1960s. The show’s original 2004 premiere and success resulted in the 2014 film, “Jersey Boys,” adapting it nearly scene for scene.

The stage adaptation is split into four parts corresponding with each season and each part gives every member an opportunity to tell their own side of the story. Beginning in spring, the band’s founding story is told by guitarist Tommy DeVito, played by Corey Greenan. Summer follows with the newest member, keyboard and songwriter Bob Gaudio, played by Eric Chambliss, telling the story of the years of touring and how that affected both the band and their families. 

Act II opens with the quiet bassist Nicki Massi, played by Michael Milton, representing fall. Despite being a man a few words up to this point, he reveals the observations of the group starting to fall apart and narrates the ordeal between the loan shark, the group and Angelo DeCarlo. The lead vocalist and superstar, Frankie Valli, played by Jon Hacker, tells the story until the finale. This winter section is the fallout of the previous section, including the destruction of his family, and how he and Gaudio continued the band with new members.

Tunes both carry and hurt storytelling

The catchy and infectious covers of the original quartet’s singles were the star of the performance, which meant Hacker stole the show. Even though the multiple comedic elements and the drama infused plot, Hacker’s vocal range and emotive wails as frontman Valli was outstanding.

The usage of pre-existing songs by The Four Seasons or songs covered by them left some scenes with contradicting tones. The discography of the quartet is primarily upbeat rock/punk, meaning most of the more nuanced or devastating moments in the plot is interrupted with a track that sounds like it’s saying “it’s time to party” even if the lyrics are more aligned with what is happening (“Stay/Let’s Hang On”).

That being said, the performance of the song “Fallen Angel” in the second act after Valli receives devastating family news translates perfectly, as the song is much slower and more balladesque than most of their discography.

There were many moments in which the rumbles being broken by their upbeat tunes made the overall tension of the story wind up even more (“Beggin”). The “show must go on” attitude acted as both something that led to their success and to the eventual break down of the group. 

Savvy stage direction 

A very strong non-music related element of the show was the staging. The set was a relatively bare set of stairs and a bridge, but used very creatively throughout the show. Many scenes used this limited set and the performers carried the scene alone.  

Another element of the staging that stood out was the direction of The Four Seasons during many of the performances. Some moments had them playing under a single street lamp or in a recording studio all crowded around a microphone. 

One of the bigger moments in their ride to success and fun staging involved the group’s first time on American Bandstand (“Sherry”). The group performed towards the left side of the stage towards big tv studio cameras. Similar to productions of “Hairspray,” above them on the big projections (that marked the change of seasons and contained comical Lichtenstein-esque art) alternated between old black and white footage of roaring fans and the actual performers on the stage. This allowed the audience the role of a studio audience by changing the dynamic of the room just enough to be refreshing. 

Later in the show, the group ended a song facing the back of the stage leaving the viewers spectating as if they were the backup or stagehands. This rotating of what was considered “facing forward” kept the very square nature of four men in suits from getting stale song after song.

The performance will have older fans jumping to their feet reliving a band of their youth and soon-to-be fans adding The Four Seasons and The Angels to playlists on their streaming service of choice for the ride home.

For more tickets and more information on “Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons,” visit jerseyboysinfo.com.