Jersey Boys Rocks Windy City!
September 6th, 2009
(Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
TalkinBroadway.com’s guest reviewer Richard Green states that JERSEY BOYS in Chicago is full of swagger and the sweetness that comes from recognizing all of life’s starkest ups and downs. It casts a spell. I couldn’t agree more with Green! Here’s a preview of this fantastic review!
But there’s no disputing that Dominic Scaglione Jr. is outstanding as Mr. Valli – first boyish, then rocketing to fame, and even getting a sort of “Al Pacino” moment, taking command at a bargaining table with gangsters. And, like just about every biographical story you’ve ever read, he loses everything to reach the highest mountain. Then there’s his deep talent as a singer, which seems bottomless, and his soaring vocal range, which seems topless. Sampling the Broadway cast recording, I’ll also say he’s a better Frankie Valli impersonator than the fellow on the official CD seems to be. As for Mr. Scaglione’s on-stage energy, well, if everyone worked as hard as he does, we simply wouldn’t need national health care. We’d all live to be 100, or we’d all be dead in just two and a half hours.Second in the honor roll is probably Larry Baker, the show’s stage manager, who apparently keeps hundreds of cues popping as props rise up from the floor and giant electronic billboards fly in and out from above. Those billboards, like Vaudeville cards, introduce new chapters in the story, sometimes with Lichtenstein-style cartoon illustrations and blazing colors. And all the actors pitch in, racing on and off with set pieces (of the physical kind), like chairs and tables, and set-pieces (of the narrative variety), like brushes with the law, the standard recording-studio drama (with the hilarious Kevin Crewell as their producer) and also a family broken by fame. But, thanks also to all the rushing around and colorful signage, Jersey Boys defies the inherently choppy nature of biography by absolutely doubling-down with a dazzling array of distractions.
Michael Cunio (as Tommy) is very brash and entertaining as the pushy leader of the singing group (and narrator of most of the story). And, thanks to some very good writing (and very good acting), he also gets to play a relatively three-dimensional character. Michael Ingersoll bides his time in the background till act two, when he turns his relationship with Tommy into a fantastic comic monolog, reminiscent of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple. It was a very smart bit of casting to take a chance on someone so subtly funny. And Shonn Wiley is proud, ironic and smart as the singer/songwriter who cranks out the hits.
Read the full review on TalkinBroadway.com!
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Great review. I would like to add a comment about the alternate Frankie, John Michael Dias. This is not to take anything away from Dominic, who is wonderful, and I know the show was not reviewed with John Michael as Frankie, but…..I’ve seen Chicago JB eight times, three of those times with John Michael Dias in the lead role. IMO, he is absolutely incredible. His growth from young Frankie to the more mature Frankie is outstanding — an amazing transformation. His voice is powerful and moving, also. I was fortunate enough to meet him outside of the theatre twice and he was charming and gracious. I just can’t say enough about him.
Comment by BeckyK — September 6, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
Nice! Kudos to the entire Chicago cast.
Comment by Lin — September 6, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
I have got to get to Chicago! Congrats to the whole cast and crew for a stellar production. Dominic remains a standout in everyones heart.
Comment by Gladys — September 7, 2009 @ 4:06 am
I just love the Chicago cast, especially Michael Ingersoll. He is the only one of the four lead actors who has played the part here in Chicago for the entire duration and I couldn’t be happier about that. His portrayal of Nick is spot on. I could never imagine anyone else in the role. During the sit-down scene, he’ll have you laughing one minute and crying the next. He’s a gift.
Michael, if you’re reading this, please know that you are so appreciated.
Comment by Rose — September 7, 2009 @ 2:15 pm