Review Roundup: Jersey Boys Shines in Salt Lake City!
June 8th, 2013Critics all over the Salt Lake City area are rocking to JERSEY BOYS at the Capitol Theatre. Check out snapshots from the rave reviews:
Dan Nailen, SLCene.com: The production is slick beginning to end, and the set is one of the best I’ve seen. Not only did scenes flow into each other easily thanks to constantly moving parts on stage, but a video screen above the action served as a live TV screen when the band performed for the American Bandstand cameras at one point. At other times, the screen showcased animation that helped fill out the narrative of the show. The creativity in Jersey Boys comes from more than just The Four Seasons’ deep catalog.
Erica Hansen, DeseretNews.com: It’s an energetic, fast-paced ride, and this touring production is solid from top to bottom.
As an audience, you’ll be part of concert appearances, TV broadcasts and recording sessions, to name a few. You’ll likely be surprised to find out some of the songs you’ve known your whole life are the Seasons’ and you’ll have an awfully hard time sitting still.
Ben Fulton, The Salt Lake Tribune: It’s hard to name another musical that spends so much time dressing fame down, all while building it magnificently up, as does “Jersey Boys.”
Frankie Valli, played from convincing top to persuasive bottom by Nick Cosgrove, comes across as ever the frustrated gentleman, ready to please but almost aching to somehow fail.
It’s to this show’s great credit that, where it counts most, the music does all the talking. Without even a touch of stage wizardry or special effects, “Jersey Boys” reaches a marvelous climax during “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” With Valli on stage in solo, accompanied by a striking horn section of ensemble cast members behind him, all the pain and drama suddenly makes sense as the song soars into an audience’s open heart.
Callie Oppedisano, UtahTheatreBloggers.com: Jersey Boys at the Capitol Theatre is, simply, a great Broadway night out, satisfying in its music, acting, scope, and production elements. It’s a fun way to start the summer theatre season. And, while it is certainly not a musical that prompts deep intellectual discussions, it is a musical that makes you want to know more. I’m guessing more than a few audience members will go home to Google and YouTube, hungry for a little more.
Marsha Maxwell, SaltLakeCity.About.com: I was able to catch the Salt Lake City show on its opening night June 4, and I thought it was thoroughly entertaining.
Where Jersey Boys really shines is, of course, in the singing. Cosgrove was nearly flawless in the role of Frankie Valli, which has been known to ravage a singer’s voice.
The rest of the cast, including Brandon Andrus as Nick Massey, Nicolas Dromard as Tommy DeVito, and Jason Kappus as Bob Gaudio, dance and sing their hearts out, and breathe life into the characters where the story allows. The rich, polished sound of the musical numbers is pure ear candy…
