Jersey Boys

Whispers of “Big Man In Town” can only mean one thing. Either “The Four Seasons” have covertly reformed without press realization, or a tribute revue has landed on the Strip, in a bid to revive some of the most memorable rock 'n' roll hits in living history. Purists may have heaved a unified sigh of disapproval, but in most cases it proved to be short-lived. For the musical “Jersey Boys” came with a somewhat surprising production attribution – the great Frankie Valli himself!

Usually, homage musicals fall into two categories, impersonation or tribute. “Jersey Boys” defies either, regarding itself a docu-musical, charting the lives of four young men during the 60's who shot from session gigs in Baltimore, to prominence with “Sherry” (1962) - within the space of two years. As the musical's title would suggest, the early plot is precedent to the success of the hit single, charting the highs and lows of a foursome, whose entrepreneurial spirit was a key factor in jumping a few rungs of the ladder to fame. Marshall Brickman; the former screenwriter for Woody Allen, as well as a touring musician himself with Eric Weissberg during the “love era”, is responsible for the inception of “Jersey Boys” - albeit with a little help from Bob Gaudio.

Where does Mr. Valli fit in? Well, although he isn't credited with re-mastering tracks, or shaping the overall plot, Valli took charge of the Broadway auditions – some say because he wanted the choice of who played him, to be made only by him. Whether or not that's true, Rick Faugno (whom plays “Frankie” in the show) is the result of some major pre-Broadway reshuffling. Originally auditioned to play the soft-core role of Joe Pesci, Valli was convinced that both Faugno's likeness and vocal prowess lent him far better to playing himself. The decision was made, as were the subsequent choices for “Nick Massi” (Jeff Leibow), “Bob Gaudio” (Erich Bergen) and “Tommy DeVito” (Jeremy Kushnier.) Kushnier's roles as “Roger” in Benny Tour's “Rent” (2001), coupled with a stint within “Joe: The Musical” pretty much secured his suitability as the enigmatic lead guitarist, while Faugno had the swagger and mannerisms of a young Frankie.

“Jersey Boys” seeks to make no bones about the controversial early life of the 'real' band. Cleverly, each band member has been assigned a certain time-frame of the band's history to narrate – Kushnier hitting the ground running with the “Spring of The Four Seasons”. It transpires the original band's creation, was the result of three choices faced by a then youthful and impressionable Massi and DeVito, who sought with all their might to escape their dregs existence in Newark, New Jersey. Here's where Rick Faugno faced his toughest challenge with “Frankie”, an unsettled barber possessing a raw soul vocal, and no direction. Faugno plays unbridled emphasis on the personal struggle, since Valli personally tutored him on his early years.

“Jersey Boys” flirts with the unconventional lifestyles of three Newark musicians – Valli, DeVito and Massi, charting the raw deals and low hits endured before they reached the pinnacle of their early efforts. When the ensemble finally get around to the first album hit, there's an audible anticipation among the audience – rewarded with an almost sound perfect soul cover. From hereon in, “Jersey Boys” picks up pace, attacking the juicy bones of loan-shark dealings with New Jersey “boss” Gyp DeCarlo (played by Ken Krugman), at which point the “Massi” and “Gaudio” characters exude a little gangster charisma. But the musical direction of the real Bob Gaudio ensures that “Jersey Boys” doesn't rest on it's laurels too long. After all, this is meant to be a docu-musical, not a history lesson. Those waiting for a slice of true “Four Seasons” back catalog are soon drowning in a sea of hits, as the foursome tackle “Bye Bye Baby”, “Big Girls Don't Cry” and “Oh, What A Night”. Finally, the theater is on it's feet in almost disco era revelry.

Broadcasting it's grandeur with “a level above the rest”, the central Palazzo Hotel seeks to offer a similar caliber of entertainment. “Jersey Boys” couldn't have slotted in better, playing an alternating 4 night schedule and sharing the very same theater as the ambitious new “Phantom” revue, as well as “Blue Man Group”. Short of an original band reformation, “Jersey Boys” is proving to court the same popularity as it's resident siblings – it's “Just To Good To Be True” but it's still here!