Can't Take Your Eyes Off the Jersey Boys
The Music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Appeal to All
Jun 23, 2009
The Saturday matinee of Jersey Boys in New York featured Cory Grant as Frankie Valli, Dominic Nolfi as Tommy De Vito, Matt Bogart as Nick Massi, and Andrew Rannels as Bob Gaudio. But like the rest of the weekdays, Jersey Boys remains one of the most watched musicals on Broadway since it opened on November 6, 2005.
It is directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. The musical direction of Ron Melrose breathes life to the entire show that was originally produced by the California-based LaJolla Playhouse.
Appealing Music
The music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in Jersey Boys continues to appeal audiences, from the young and to the not-so-young, the true story of young boys from Newark in New Jersey. Their rise as the most popular band in the 1960s is mainly attributed to the musical genius of Bob Gaudio, the main composer for the group. Their songs speak of their lives which America adored for years.
The audience roars and dances to the upbeat, sharp rendition of “Sherry”, “Girls Don’t Cry”, and “Walk Like a Man”. And there is that unforgettable “Can’t take my Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back to You” which has sent the Jersey Boys soaring in the record charts in the 1960s.
The Long, Bitter Sweet Way Up
Behind the magic of their music is the drama of their lives. Jersey Boys reveals how the Four Seasons struggled to establish their name and identity and to improve on their musicality, typical for any band that wants to be heard and remembered.
Band leader Tommy DeVito, while trying to reach the heights, ended up hugely indebted on behalf of the perks for the group. Suddenly, singing was no longer fun as they were bound to pay off all its debts as he goes on exile in Las Vegas.
DeVito’s financial misfortune made the Four Seasons weary. It became inevitable that they disbanded. Gaudio decided to continue making the music for the group while Massi went back to New Jersey to spend time with his family.
Valli eventually went solo as a singer. But along the way, he lost his family as a trade off to success: first, a painful divorce and then the death of their youngest daughter who could have been a singer.
Because it is real life drama in the midst of limelight and wonderful music, Jersey Boys will go a long way in telling the audience that behind every well-loved song are singers and composers who have their awful trade-offs.
