February 4, 2010

Jersey Boys Walks Like A Hit in Memphis!

February 4th, 2010

Another fantastic review for JERSEY BOYS in Memphis! Here’s a sneak peek to Chris Davis’ review on the Memphis Flyer Intermission Impossible blog:

So what makes Jersey Boys such a hit with the boys who hate musicals? Maybe it’s got something to do with the absence of show tunes. On the other hand, if you like Mid-Century American pop it’s hard not to be taken in by spot on covers of Four Seasons hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man” or by the uncanny replication of The Angels singing “My Boyfriend’s Back” like it was 1963 all over again. Mix all that solid gold bubblegum with a compelling story about bad ass gangsters, fast girls, amazing cars and bowling and you’ve got the recipe for Jersey Boys. The cherry on top of this big banana split: Joe Pesci—yes THAT Joe Pesci— emerges as a pivotal character. What’s not to love?

Physically and vocally Joseph Leo Bwarie is a dead ringer for Valli and he’s given incredible support by Matt Bailey, Steve Gouveia, and Ryan Jesse who are equally convincing as Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio. Sarah Darling, Denise Payne, and Kara Tremel work overtime playing a variety of mothers, wives, b-girls, and entertainers. Although the Jersey Boys get all the glory these three women play over 50 characters and are, along with the rest of a tight ensemble, the show’s secret stars.

Jersey Boys has its priorities right. The songs are perfect, the acting is solid and the story is well told. Only the set—a minimal creation as Broadway musicals go and extremely functional— can be described as a miserable failure. Bright Roy Lichtenstein-inspired projections bring warm and welcome colors to a lean industrial-feeling environment. But Pop Art is too self-conscious and the campy images work hard to undermine a show that’s as sincere and straight up as a Bon Jovi fan from back in the day.

Visit MemphisFlyer.com to read the full review.

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