Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys
Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice. Music by Bob Gaudio. Lyrics by Bob Crewe. Directed by Richard Perdriau. Presented by CLOC Musical Theatre. The National Theatre, 20 Carlisle St, St Kilda Melbourne. May 13 - 28, 2022

CLOC has found real synergy with this musical. The overall look and feel of the show emphasise the historical and social context by highlighting the "Goodfellas (Scorsese 1990)" quality of the story. This gives the production a very clear and distinctive style which is executed with consistency and confidence. 

The approach to the setting is simple, yet highly effective. The set design is predominantly created by projections, with very rich and dense information which easily evokes the settings, although this can sometimes come at the expense of a sense of depth, despite constant set changes. The costuming clearly references the Italian American Jersey boy look adding to the cohesive look of the show. The suits for the performances have just the right amount of glamour and slickness to bring the singers to life.

Will Hanley as Frankie Valli is sensational, capturing the unique quality of the vocals perfectly. Robbie Wilton as Tommy De Vito is exuberant and amusing and this helps set a very clear tone for the delivery of the narrative. The performances not only bring the music to life but also the range of emotions. The light-hearted moments have a good measure of humour while the darker sides are treated with serious and raw emotion. This complements the excellent singing and the energetic dancing beautifully. This production exhibits a real desire to make the journey both enjoyable and palpable. This is also made possible by solid performances from Jonathon Shilling as Bob Gaudio and Tom Morley as Nick Massi. 

The musicians deliver a very tight and authentic rendition of the famous tunes. It is a pity that the band’s presence is not incorporated into the show more. When the curtain is raised to support the Valli solo performances they bring authenticity and grandeur to the set. Their inclusion emphasises the great harmony between the music, singing and dancing and adds dimension to the set. 

This production is an unequivocal demonstration of the very fine quality of the work, effort and talent that has been invested in this performance. Be prepared for an intense and fun-filled journey!

Patricia Di Risio 

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