Hey, this is my first post here...so hi everybody!
I first heard the OBC recording of Jersey Boys about 6 months ago and I was automatically hooked. I youtubed the heck out of the show and read all about it, learning as much as I could without actually seeing the show. Today, (well, yesterday) I had a ticket for Next to Normal (which was incredible by the way), and I went down to the August Wilson to see if there were ANY seats for tonight. I was shocked to get a front row center mezz. seat at about 10:30 in the morning. By, 8 I was more excited than you can imagine.
END OF RAMBLE
Now to the show
*Full Cast
Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli) - Absolutely unbelievable. He has the most flawless falsetto I have ever heard. CTMEOY was superb and the audience was REALLY into it, great response. Despite the cell phone ring during the dramatic phone call beforehand, Fallen Angel was beautiful, he brought many people to tears...he had so much emotion and it really affected the performance. He also aged really well. One cool thing I remember, he did this neat thing in Dawn as he sang "I want you to think", the first time, not sure how to describe it but it was really cool.
Andrew Rannells (Bob Gaudio) - Also, incredible, I loved how he played the part a little geeky, it added ALOT of great humor. His voice was exceptional, except I thought it was a little nasally during the high notes of Cry for Me, and a bit quiet during Stay...but I really can't complain, he was great. His little ending monologue in Who Loves You was probably my favorite part of his performance, every line was perfect and the audience loved it too.
Dominic Nolfi (Tommy DeVito) - Yet again, more sheer awesome. I think he probably had the strongest voice in the cast, other than Jarrod Spector. Earth Angel and Silhouettes were absolutely great, and his voice was so smooth and natural. I would have loved to have seen his Gaudio or Valli back when he understudied those rules. I did like his falsetto in the jail scene :), curious if it would hold up for the whole show though. All in all, he was funny when he needed to be, and a great dramatic actor when that was needed as well.
Matt Bogart (Nick Massi) - I liked him, but I felt he may have been the weakest of the Four Seasons... he was really funny, and that was kind of the issue. He was funny the whole show, in the breakdown scene I didn't really feel the emotion that I think it needed, because it was all humor. I did really like his scene talking about his kids, I felt emotion there. The audience loved him, I did too, just a little more drama... I thought he had a great voice though, and really took advantage of his part (if that makes sense)
Miles Aubrey (Norm Waxman etc.) - Did very well with his parts, I thought he was great as Nick DeVito, you could really hear his voice, I am curious about his Nick Massi, I bet it's great.
Matthew Scott (Hank Majewski etc.) - Very funny as Crewe's "assistant". Seemed to really enjoy being a "New Season", very into Come on Marianne. I also think he would be a great Gaudio.
Peter Gregus (Bob Crewe etc.) - Absolutely hilarious, delivered every line perfectly, nothing more to say.
Kris Coleman (Hal Miller etc.) Again, what a voice! Tons of energy as the rap star and great as Hal Miller. I think the best part of his performance was his killer high note in OWAN. That was cool...
The Girls (I'm too tired to individually review them...) - Loved the Angels, all three had great voices and the solo was great. Bridget Berger was exceptional as Mary Delgado, very funny.
All in all, absolutely great show, such a great experience.
Okay, so that's it, this is my first review I have ever written, hope it isn't too bad!