Tuesday night of this week I went with a friend to see Jersey Boys at the Citi Colonial Theatre. I used to go to the Colonial all the time growing up to see shows with my mom and my sister.
Our performance was set to begin at 7:30pm and we both had late afternoon meetings at work. I rushed from the office toward the theatre, desperate to find a quick take out dinner for us along the way. A coworker recommended I pick up sandwiches at Thinking Cup on Tremont Street. Have you ever been there? I had never set foot in there before and I was amazed! The place has a warm, inviting vibe and one of the best dessert cases I have ever had the pleasure of pressing my nose against.
I did order us two sandwiches, a grilled cheese with tomato and arugula for me and a BLT with avocado for her. We wolfed them down before heading into the theatre.
Before I gush about the show, I have to say, this same friend and I saw Sister Act at the Boston Opera House about three weeks ago and on that outing and on this one, the people working at the theatre were outrageously rude. They literally bark at you, they police people as they take their seats and they refuse to let people move to empty seats, even after intermission! Going to the theatre is supposed to be a special, elegant night out, not a trip to the time out chair.
I digress.
Before the show all I knew about Jersey Boys was that it was about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and that everyone I knew who saw it raved about it.
I had no idea how many of the songs I would actually know. For example: Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man, Beggin', Bye Bye Baby and Can't Take My Eyes Off You. We were absolutely the youngest people in the audience, but everyone else remembered these songs from their younger years and you could hear the entire theatre singing along each time the first few notes of one of their favorites was played. It was so cute!
On our way out my friend said to me, "Do you think if they ever make a musical about the Backstreet Boys we'll come and sing along all night like those people did?" Yes, yes I do.
In addition to all of the great music, the way they told the story was really fun. The show was set up into four parts: spring, summer, fall and winter. How appropriate! Each season was narrated by a different member of the Four Seasons. It kept the show interesting and you got to learn a new perspective on the group's dynamic each time the narrator changed.
What I also loved was that they incorporated big movie screens into the set design so when an iconic moment happened like the Four Seasons on American Bandstand or The Ed Sullivan Show, they played the actual footage on screen above the actors on stage. It was during those clips that you could see how incredibly well cast the stage show is.
Each of the lead actors - Nick Cosgrove (Frankie Valli), John Gardiner (Tommy DeVito), Michael Lomenda (Nick Massi) and Miles Jacoby (Bob Gaudio) - were absolutely superb. They had great stage presence, excellent comedic timing and above all, killer voices!
I found myself smiling widely throughout the entire show. At intermission my face hurt from so much smiling!
When the show was over and the cast began their curtain call, the entire theatre rose to their feet for the very first people who walked out and stayed on their feet all the way until the four stars took their final bows. Then the cast launched into a rousing rendition of Who Loves You Pretty Baby, which had everyone on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along.
Jersey Boys is only in town through this Sunday March 3rd, so if you want to see it, you have to act fast. I have seen countless Broadway shows and I would put this in my top 10 for sure.
Have you see Jersey Boys since the cast rolled into town? Were you as in love with it as I was?
