The musical, which won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical, traces the rise and the eventual splitting up of The Four Seasons, told from the point of view of each band member, representing each season. Tommy DeVito, who formed the band (and its previous incarnations), started with "Spring" and he elaborated on how the 4 key members came together. In this segment, we also met Joe Pesci who played a role in connecting Bob Gaudio, the key songwriter, to the group.
In "Summer", it was Bob's turn to talk about his version of the story. In this segment, 3 No 1 singles were introduced in quick succession: Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry and Walk Like A Man. It also talked about how The Four Seasons fared and reacted during the British Invasion.
"Autumn" opened the second half, where Nich Massi, the "Ringo" of the group, talked about the break-up of the 4 members. It was at that point in time that The Four Seasons became Frank Valli and The Four Seasons, and we had the horn section appearing on stage for the hit song Too Good To Be True.
Frankie Vallie helmed the "Winter" segment where a sad event happened. The 4 of them reunited for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and each gave an account of his place in the group.
Unlike most tribute musicals that were heavy on hits but weak on the storyline, Jersey Boys stand out in terms of a coherent script, with a frank account of what happened. The audience was engaged throughout the 2.5 hours of performance. The South African cast was equally impressive, and kept us entertained with their good singing and acting.
Although the younger generation may not be familiar with Frankie Vallie or The Four Seasons, this production would definitely appeal to audience of all ages. The theme of 4 kids from humble background making it big internationally would inspire all of us. And of course, this is a good introduction to the wonderful music of The Four Seasons.
Oh What a Night!. Recommended.
For more information: www.jerseyboys.com.sg
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