Jersey Boys Rocks in Providence!
May 15th, 2010Another fab review for the JERSEY BOYS national tour in Providence. This one is by Randy Rice on BroadwayWorld.com. Here’s a preview:
Slick, sleek and with dazzle to spare, Act One is narrated by Tommy DeVito who tells his version of the fits, starts and near-death experiences of the nascent group. There are nearly two dozen songs in the first act; many are 8-16 bar snippets that give a flavor of frustrating studio sessions or nightclub gigs. Most of the songs are given full, concert performance treatments of the group’s classic Top 40 Hits. Listening to these full renditions is pure joy.Act Two explores the sad unraveling of the original group and Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio’s valiant efforts to keep the Four Seasons relevant. Mr. Bwarie’s octave-jumping delivery of Frankie Valli’s signature style is, undoubtably, the star of the production.
Jersey Boys is, however, more, much more, than a Juke Box Musical or (God forbid) a cheesy Beatle-mania style show. There is a flow-through narrative that does not shy away from the difficulties of life on the road and its cost to family.
