February 26, 2012

Jersey Boys First Natl Tour Remains Fresh on Its Return to Charlotte!

February 26th, 2012

Theater critic Lawrence Toppman states the return of JERSEY BOYS to Charlotte’s Belk Theater is a machine so well-oiled that it runs at top speed with near-relentless precision. Here’s an excerpt from his review:

Joseph Leo Bwarie, whose low body and high falsetto make him ideal for the lead role of Frankie Valli, still has the plaintive personality and ringing voice that stood out on the tour’s first visit to Belk Theater in winter 2010.

The freshness comes from the three guys who surround Valli in the Four Seasons: John Gardiner as combative Tommy DeVito, Michael Lomenda as complacent Nick Massi and especially Preston Truman Boyd as composer Bob Gaudio. Boyd, last seen at the Belk galumphing through “Young Frankenstein” as the monster, brings a calm to his monologues that helps to balance the frenetic pace.

And the level of professionalism hasn’t gone down an iota, from fervent onstage drumming by Mark Papazian, to the zeal of the three actresses who play every female part. For these dedicated souls, the show hasn’t gotten a whit more stale on its unending travels.

Visit CharlotteObserver.com to read the full review.

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