Los Angeles Crowds Love JB!
June 5th, 2007Staff writer Charles McNulty notes that ovations are a dime a dozen in the theater these days, though not many shows can boast of setting one off midway through the second act. But then “Jersey Boys,” the musical biography of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons that opened at the Ahmanson on Sunday, has a secret weapon that makes it virtually impossible for those wild and crazy baby boomers to stay planted in their seats — the group’s seemingly endless string of compulsive hits.
What drives the crowd prematurely to its feet is the unveiling of Valli’s monster comeback song, the one the record company executives, who love the easy accessibility of “C’mon Marianne,” are none too sure about — “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” To judge by the reaction of the audience, this velvety classic doesn’t just afford easy-listening pleasure, it encapsulates an era and reactivates the dreams of romantic youth.
Visit Los Angeles Times to check out the full review.
Well, there’s one more reason that the crowd jumps to it’s feet after Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – it’s because Chris Jones sings it with such feeling and with such a voice!! This reviewer obviously didn’t really like the whole show so guys – don’t listen to him. The true review is the audience standing and cheering every night, along with how much we miss you here in SF.
Comment by Vicki — June 5, 2007 @ 10:18 am
2. Vicki, the review overall is quite good, just not off the charts as the others are. He rightfully gives credit to Chris for his powerful voice and the mid-show standing ovation. And not only does he show such feeling in CTMEOY, he demonstrates it throughout the entire second act.
I’m not quite sure I follow the reviewer’s comment about Chris’s “Romeo magnetism.” I saw the LA show twice last week, and the comments I overheard both times leaving the theatre reflected not only how talented Chris was, but also how handsome. Perhaps the reviewer needs a good optician??
Comment by Howard Tucker — June 5, 2007 @ 11:31 am
Howard, I see what you mean. I went back and read it again and while I would definitely download anything that Chris Jones sings, he does at least give him a little credit. Thanks for pointing that out.
And as for his magnetism and good looks, us girls here in SF found he had an abundance of both, along with that very sexy singing voice.
I sure hope you enjoyed the show!
Comment by Vicki — June 5, 2007 @ 11:59 am
We’re totally satisfied with the new cast, because they’re just as professional and entertaining as Chris & Co.. We’ve seen, heard and met Cast I, Cast II and are fortunate to have them for this long in SF. Now it’s great that Southern CA will experience the return of the Jersey Boys!
Chris Jones and Rick Faugno have their own styles of portraying Frankie Valli, as evidenced by asking both of them the same question (How do you compare to Frankie and was the preparation difficult for the lead role?) at the stage door and at their public appearances in SF. Rick’s transition from Joey to Frankie was a breeze, but a tiny bit of guidance was all that was needed due to taking on a lead role. Chris has the look and voice. His all-around acting talent is natural and his voice projects with minimal effort.
Chris’s performances as Frankie, acting talent and range in voice knocks out the lights and always warrants standing/extended ovations two times nightly every time I’ve watched the 1st Nat’l Cast. I’ll definitely see the 1st Cast in LA soon! It’ll be great meeting up with them once more before they hit their next destination.
Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — June 5, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
I don’t get a lot of the criticism of Chris, either, but to each their own. It’s a play, not a Four Seasons tribute show. Chris has a great theatrical, trained voice. It’s a little different than the way Frankie Valli sings, but it’s good in it’s own way, and does total justice to those songs. I’d love to see Chris do a lead in a different musical, because he has the voice and the presence of a musical leading man.
Comment by Lana — June 5, 2007 @ 2:09 pm
As John Lloyd Young once said (uh-oh…one of those Jersey folks drawing the conversation back to NY), he listened to Frankie Valli’s music continuously on his iPod for months before beginning rehearsals. Then he STOPPED so that he could interpret, not imitate, a living legend. Chris Jones is not paid to be a puppet for a ventriloquist named Frankie Valli.
This is art, not a documentary. Art with standing ovations. It doesn’t get better. Have a great run in LA, Jersey Boys and Girls!
Comment by Audrey — June 5, 2007 @ 4:05 pm
No one should not get upset about a less than flattering review from the LA Times. It’s the LA Times for C…sake. They go out of their way to criticize anything that doesn’t fit into their idea of art and theatre, or the world for that matter. It’s the same artsy and craftsy type of crowd that didn’t get the 4 Seasons in the ’60s just as said in the play by the character Bob Gaudio and explaianed in interviews by the real Bob Gaudio. We should wear a mediocre review from the LA Times as a badge of honor.
The artsy and craftsy crowd loves all those critically acclaimed plays that close in less than a month, like Lennon and Johnny Cash and Good Vibrations etc.
I like our company a little better. You know all those TONY AWARD WINNING PLAYS that make their investors over $100+ million dollars and still counting, with a Broadway show that you still can’t get tickets for almost two years later, with two extremely successful touring companies, and planned openings in Vegas, London, and Toronto.
Comment by David Cace — June 5, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
People. It’s NOT a bad review.
Comment by Leanna — June 5, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
So, as a newcomer to the JB scene, and an Ojai, CA (90 miles north of Los Angeles) AND a reader of the LA Times (they’ve even published several of my articles…) I gotta say bravo!
I saw the show last Thursday (already commented on this blog about that…) and was awed, amazed, impressed and delighted. Afterward, thanks to Howard Tucker’s connections in both NY and LA, I got a back-stage tour (even stood ON the stage and looked out over the theater!).
Art…an art…the art – I can only begin to imagine what it could be like standing on that stage. To anyone that can possibly critique this kind of art (positive OR negative) I would only say, “Good luck.”
How do you put a number, a judgment, a metric on this form of presentation. And, as I read above…it’s not an imitation, it’s an interpretation.
To EVERYONE who made and makes this happen…THANK you from the bottom of my heart.
Comment by Jason — June 6, 2007 @ 3:54 am
Well said, Audrey (comment #6), and thanks for the kind words, Jason (comment #9). You know, Audrey, sometimes people are so influenced by what they EXPECT to see (i.e., a Frankie “puppet”)that they don’t concentrate on the fine book and talent. Remember Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party” from 1972: ‘Didn’t hear the music, (I) didn’t look the same.”
When I saw JB in LA for the first time, I was concentrating more on how Michael Ingersoll did not look like Bobby Spencer (even though he may have looked more like the real Nick Massi) than I was on Michael’s superb bass vocals. In fact, with the exception of Erich Bergen/Daniel Reichard, none of the LA cast physically resembled their NY counterparts whom I had seen so many times. Only on a second viewing was I really able to begin to appreciate the talents of the individual performers.
Comment by Howard Tucker — June 6, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Hello, everyone,
In the old days, when I went on a trip, I would send postcards to friends and family with the expression , “Wish you were here.”
From what I am reading and hearing about LA JB, “wish I was there.”
IE
Comment by Irene Eizen — June 6, 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Howard, I completely understand where you’re coming from.
It took me a couple shows to get used to the 2nt national tour for those reasons — nothing of their doing, but when you have a certain cast combination in your head, a major difference is jarring.
Comment by Leanna — June 7, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
Reading the article, I thought the LA Times gave a good review rating overall.
However, I don’t agree with the author’s opinions on Chris Jones. Not only does he have an amazing voice, he’s definitely easy on the eyes. I wouldn’t mind it one bit if he sang to me all the day, I’d be in heaven!
We saw Jersey Boys @ the Ahmanson during previews week, and everyone in the audience loved it! There were thunderous applause and some standing ovations already by the end of Act 1.
In my opinion, this was the best musical we’ve seen this past year. We saw Dirty Dancing in London and Chicago in Broaday, and Jersey Boys(LA Cast) defintely blew both of them away! It’s a fantastic show! And I’ve heard a variety of people on radio and tv saying how phenomenal the show is! I know it would also do well in London and Toronto as it has in Broadway.
Comment by Annie — June 7, 2007 @ 2:58 pm