October 13, 2008

Jersey Boys’ London: Philip Bulcock

October 13th, 2008

Broadway.com’s Matt Wolfe talks with Jersey Boys London’s Nick Massi, Philip Bulcock. Here’s a preview of the interview:

Oh, What a Night: Bulcock saw director Des McAnuff’s ongoing Broadway production in September 2007, well before starting rehearsals for the London version and points to differences between the two. “The audience there is much more geared toward the music, sometimes to the detriment of the story. They go bananas from the beginning of the show. And obviously all the Jersey references go down brilliantly, whereas here we’ve had to change a few.” On the West End, by contrast, “audiences listen more to the story of the band, which they don’t know at all, and a lot of them don’t know that the music in the show is stuff they will know. People go, `Wow, I didn’t know they’d written that.’ So they’re not really coming for the music, or I don’t think they are; they’re coming for the show.” With specific regard to the content of the show, Bulcock points to “the mafia stuff. For people from New Jersey, it’s around their lives, or they know it exists, whereas here it’s a glamorous thing, so there’s a very different connection to that part of the story.” In the final analysis, the actor says, the reactions in both cities “have their benefits and drawbacks. We wish the audience would go as nuts here.”

4 Comments »

  1. When I went to see this show in London in May the crowd was very excited and really rocking to all the music. I was able to hear all the dialog and really loved all the performances.

    Comment by GLADYS MARLIN — October 13, 2008 @ 12:03 pm

  2. Philip is a phenomenal “Nicky”. You wouldn’t think he was the “Ringo” of the group with the great stage presence he has.

    Comment by Charly O'Clarit — October 15, 2008 @ 9:42 am

  3. to phillip
    you show the jersey boys is the best show i have ever seen. the songs and choreography are excellent how do you remember your lines the songs and the dance moves.

    Comment by charlotte — March 20, 2009 @ 2:57 pm

  4. dear philip..went to see you for the 5th time last night….the show was just as fantastic as it was the 1st time i saw it last august.there were a few changes i did notice and the end was brilliant.your performance was spot on..again…keep up the good work…cos im coming again in september…lots of love ..loraine.x

    Comment by loraine jennings — June 26, 2009 @ 8:04 am

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