Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys has racked up 57 major awards – including London’s Olivier for Best New Musical, along with Broadway’s Tony and Australia’s Helpmann for Best Musical. So, it is a great choice to end 2022 for Northern Light Musical Theatre Company!
Jersey Boys is a bio-musical inspired by the lives of four band members: Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi. Together, the quartet were Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
It is divided into four parts: spring, summer, autumn and winter. At the beginning of each season, a different member of the Four Seasons introduces himself to the audience and then recounts that period of the band’s bumpy path to stardom. What’s more, each believes he is the one responsible.
The Four Seasons prided themselves on songs about real life issues faced by working folks -mostly relationship problems. Valli said, “Our songs were more about real people and the real world they lived in. A world which wasn’t always that pretty.”
Director Ceri Hutton has wisely chosen to stage the musical simply and let the story, and of course the music, tell the story. Her set design (along with John Sheehan) features a raised walkway with staircases on either side for access. The rest of the stage is deliberately left open for set pieces which roll in and out with ease. A highlight of the design is the LED signage by Brad Mundt which transports us back to the 60s and allows us to identify each location.
Hutton has cast well. Not only are the four Jersey Boys a dream, there is masses of talent in the minor principals and the ensemble. The show glides along nicely with very few blank spots.
Leanne Savill’s band pumps out 33 musical numbers and underscoring. They capture the period totally, complementing the vocals. The Jersey Boy harmonies are worth a mention as well, with the falsetto on top and balanced three parts underneath. If these don’t work then the show dives. Thanks to Deon Martino-Williams, Kristian Latella, Michael Coumi and Sam Davy there are no problems here, their harmonies are truly wonderful!
Sue Pole’s choreography perfectly matches the music and the capabilities of the cast. Her boy band moves recapture the iconic band and have us tapping along in our seats.
Deon Martino-Williams brings a freshness to Frankie Valli. He has the voice to deliver ‘that sound’ and a depth of acting unusual for an actor his age. ‘His Fallen Angel’ is one of the highlights of Act 2.
Kristian Latella fresh from Hello, Dolly! and The Producers captures Tommy DeVito perfectly! The accent, hand gestures and cheeky leer are all there. This is some of the best work I have seen from Latella.
Michael Coumi’s Bob Gaudio is innocence personified initially. Coumi cleverly guides us through Gaudio’s growing up, sometimes the hard way. Gaudio becomes the group’s wise sage and Coumi gives us that in buckets.
Sam Davy’s Nick Massi, by his own admission, is quiet initially, then as Act 2 develops we discover why. Davy provides the grounding notes for the group and does so without dominating as some basses tend to do.
Northern Light are fortunate to have such strong minor principals - Michelle Davy as Mary Delgado, Henry Davis as Nick De Vito, Jaxon Joy as Joe Pesci, Gavin Cianci as Gyp De Carlo and of course The Angels – Roxie Giovannucci, Loren Cianci and Amie Graham who all deliver well rounded characters.
A hard-working ensemble completes the cast filling the stage with movement and colour.
It is hard to pick highlights from this production as the songs are all so well known. My personal favourites are – ‘Sherry’, ‘Walk Like a Man’ and ‘Fallen Angel’. Every audience member will have their own favourites, I’m sure.
The Jersey Boys is a joyous trip back to the 60s a must for any fan of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Even if you don’t know much about them, go along, and you’ll be surprised how many songs you recognise!
Barry Hill
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