Jonathan Hadley Reflects on Playing Bob Crewe
March 19th, 2009
F. Daniel Kent of InsideOutNashville.com has a really fascinating interview with Jonathan Hadley, who has been playing Bob Crewe in JERSEY BOYS national tour for the last year and a half. Here’s a preview:
iOut: You have been playing Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys for a year and a half now. What is it about the character that you love most?
Jonathan Hadley: What I love about him is just who he was. The script describes him as “a very flamboyant character” but today if you came face to face with Bob Crewe you would immediately know he was a gay man even though I’m pretty sure he identifies himself as bisexual. But at the time there were no people who were out and a lot of people weren’t even sure what gay was. Back then we even thought Liberace was just “theatrical”. But Bob Crewe was the closest thing there was to being an out gay man in this time period and he was accepted into this rough and tumble rock and roll world. Most people were kind of in awe of him. He was extraordinary.
iOut: What is the most interesting thing you learned about the character while doing research to inform your performance?
JH: My favorite story about him is the famous song “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” was written when Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio were struggling to come
up with a lyric and Bob Crewe was having trouble sleeping and was pacing the apartment. Suddenly he looked back at the bed with his young male lover lying there asleep and he immediately thought of the words ‘You’re just too good to be true. I can’t take my eyes off you.’ It’s a gay love song and no one even knows it!
I love Jonathan’s portrayal. Got to see him 8 times and meet him 3 times. What a great guy. Can’t wait to see him again.
Comment by Gladys — March 20, 2009 @ 3:50 am
Jonathan is such a darling! Everyone at the Toronto Centre for the Arts still misses him, but no one more than me. I am a bit Crewe-obsessed, and I loved sharing my Crewe stories with Jonathan when he was performing in Toronto. We always said how much we’d love to know the real Bob Crewe and to go to one of his infamous parties. Jonathan is one of the warmest, friendliest, and funniest people, and judging by the comments on this site, obviously a lot of other people agree with me.
Comment by Merle Garbe — June 7, 2009 @ 2:57 pm