Rick Elice Confident Australian Jersey Boys Matches Original!
February 11th, 2009
Rick Elice and Frankie Valli pose with the Melbourne Jersey Boys cast members at last week’s press launch in Las Vegas.
JERSEY BOYS Melbourne opens at the Princess Theatre on July 4, 2009!
The Tony Award-winning musical’s writer, Rick Elice told Australian AAP that he is confident the Australian version of JERSEY BOYS will be just as good, if not better, than the original. Elice stated that he was excited to be bringing the show, about the lives of members of the 60s pop group The Four Seasons, Down Under. And, he’s confident in the four relatively unknowns chosen to play the leads in the show.
“They’ve got it going on,†Elice told AAP on Tuesday from Melbourne.
“They’re funny, and they’re relaxed and they’ve got the right attitude. They’re already torturing each other, and of course that’s the story of the show.â€
The actors/musicians for the Australian version were chosen with the help of some of the original band members including Valli.
They include Irish Dance champion and former Australia Mamma Mia star Bobby Fox as Valli, actor and musician Scott Johnson as Tommy DeVito, Glaston Toft as Nick Massi and Stephen Mahy as Bob Gaudio.
Elice said they had picked lesser known actors on purpose.
“If it was somebody famous, you’d see the famous person and then you would have to work your way into seeing the character,†Elice said.
“After half an hour the audience forgets they’re watching actors and believes they’re watching these guys 40 years ago and they start to respond to them as though it’s the original group.â€
Read the full interview with Elice in The West Australian.
Best wishes to the Aussies for a smashing success.
I agree with Rick that using “names” would take away from the personal attachment the show presents.
Comment by GLADYS MARLIN — February 11, 2009 @ 8:26 am
Hey mate, glad to see you made it down under.
Watch me Jersey Boys act, mate.
Watch me Jersey Boys act.
They’re a dangerous breed mate.
When Bob and Frankie have a pact!!
What Australian personality is used in the Neil Sedaka dialogue? Frankie’s OK, but he’s no:
a. Rolf Harris
b. Helen Reddy
c. Olivia Newton-John
d. Paul Hogan
e. Stubbleyou
Comment by Howard Tucker — February 11, 2009 @ 1:29 pm
f. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Comment by stubbleyou — February 11, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
They might just leave it, although they changed it in London.
Johnny O’Keefe would be recognizable, but I wouldn’t imagine a Detroit producer mentioning him in that context.
Comment by Leanna — February 11, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Hilarious post, Howard! But my two pence are on the London “Englebert Humperdinck” line. If not though, it’s gotta be
g. Dijaree Doo and the Don’ts
Comment by stubbleyou — February 12, 2009 @ 12:19 am