Jersey Boys – REVIEW
Image: JERSEY BOYS by Willoughby Theatre Company. Credit: Grant Leslie
By NAZMUN NAHER SHISHIR
This season, Willoughby Theatre Company brings you drama, nostalgia and music through the sensational Jersey Boys. Rightfully earning Tony and Olivier Awards, the musical recounts the riotous journey of Frankie Valli and The Four Season — their rise to fame along with professional struggles, drama and the enduring music.
The story is divided into four acts, each narrated by a member of The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi, played by Luc-Pierre Tannous, Sterling Nasa, Thomas Dee, and Samuel Dobb respectively.
Director, Court Cassar delivers a multifaceted view of the band’s history; 40 years of friendship, brotherhood, and their unconditional love for music, with chart-topping hits such as “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Walk Like a Man”, “Oh, What A Night”, and more. The compelling narrative arc is full of dramatic turns and humour.
Personal turmoil of the band members influenced their songs, which is reflected in musical highs and lows in the show. Music director, Peter Hayward and associate music director, Rowan Keyes do a spectacular job with arrangements.
Frankie Valli’s unstable love life, broken marriage, financial crisis of the band, internal conflict in the friendship, impact of fame, are all captured with great affinity Tannous, who portrays love, loss, and redemption through song.
Along with the performances, things that will strike the audience while watching the musical are its visual aesthetics, polished make-up and costume, and fantastic lighting. The choreography by Arnold Andrews, and assistant choreographer Jonathan Fitzgerald, elevate the musical’s connection with the audience, who danced with them, sang with them, and, at times even wept a little.
Valli’s closing narrative is a reflection of loyalty and loss through enduring music.
