Jersey Boys Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice Music by Bob Guadio Lyrics by Bob Crewe Directed by Lee Buckholz A review by Kate Barry
Entire contents are copyright © 2024 Kate Barry. All rights reserved.
As a millennial, I identify The Four Seasons as a staple of oldies radio. Yes, Frankie Valli and his band made upbeat tunes and their harmonies rivaled The Beach Boys and The Beatles. But I always thought a play like Jersey Boys was for baby-boomers and the like. Derby Dinner Playhouse has staged a version of Jersey Boys that takes a peak behind the effortless vocal talent, rise to fame and hardships faced along the way for The Four Seasons.
It is fitting that the Footnote pre-show entertainment consisted of music from other jukebox musicals like Beautiful and We Will Rock You. Jersey Boys sets a standard upon which other shows like it attempt to reach. Narrated by each of the band members, action, song and dance recreates the lifespan of this quartet from the working class neighborhoods of New Jersey. Derby Dinner’s theater in the round was perfect for an up close and personal point of views for this autobiographical tale in a way not possible for a proscenium stage. As The Four Seasons perform their canon towards different sides of the stage, audience members are given a wide perspective of the choreography and Frankie Valli’s showmanship.
As each of The Four Seasons tell their side of the story, these fellas bring well rounded performances to their characters. Bobby Conte’s Tommy is a macho man with big ideas. A trouble maker and a rebel of sorts, Conte brings a stubborn yet likable approach to the founding member of the group. Conte’s Tommy is a rough guy from the streets who runs into financial trouble as the band rises to fame. By his side is Frankie. Christopher Oram’s Frankie is a strong singer and dancer with suitable acting talents. His falsetto in “Rag Doll” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” is a near match to Valli himself. Oram brings lots of front man energy within hits like “Walk Like a Man” and Valli’s solo hit, “Can’t take my eyes off of you.”
Financial issues, creative inspiration and differences caused many issues for The Four Seasons as well as growing families who felt left behind. Drew Jacobson brings an odd-man-out quality to Nick Massi; a member of the band who preferred home to the decadent nature of the road. Seth Patterson brings sensitivity to Bob Gaudio. A songwriter with an ear for a hit, Patterson’s versatile performance shows how The Four Seasons’ biggest hits came from the simplest influences.
With all the relationship issues and financial worries faced by the band, hits like “Oh What a Night” and “Who Loves You” show how resilient The Four Seasons were. This is a band who came from almost nothing and ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While these Jersey Boys are from another era, their story and music are timeless.
Jersey Boys Derby Dinner Playhouse August 14 – September 29, 2024 525 Marriott DriveClarksville, IN 47129www.derbydinner.com
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