‘Jersey Boys’ review: The boys are back in town

Rome Jorge

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‘Jersey Boys’ review: The boys are back in town
'This one is a must-watch. It would be shame if this production did not tour Southeast Asia and beyond,' says Rome Jorge of the musical starring Nyoy Volante, Christian Bautista, Nino Alejandro, and Markki Stroem

The Jersey Boys is flawless. It is supremely difficult to find any fault in this year’s production by Atlantis Productions.

Nyoy Volante was spellbinding, not only with his enraptured, effortless singing but also with his empathic, heartfelt portrayal of Frankie Valli. He doesn’t play Frankie Valli; he is Frankie Valli. Finally, Christian Bautista earned his role onstage with aplomb. Fellow co-stars Nino Alejandro and Markki Stroem not only effectively portrayed essential roles, but also provided vital contrast that highlighted each and every character.

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

Director Bobby Garcia’s casting and directing was spot on. The choreography, musical direction, lighting, set design, and tailored costumes were fabulous. There was no weak link. No one and nothing stood out for the wrong reasons. Everyone earned his his place onstage and backstage. It was a stellar ensemble effort.

This one is a must-watch. It would be shame if this production did not tour Southeast Asia and beyond – not only on the strength of its led actors’ combined popularity and pop star appeal across the region, but on the merit of their artistry and stellar performances.

Saying all this straight away can’t be helped. This staging of The Jersey Boys does that to people. It was that good. 

Story worth telling, songs worth singing 

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

The Jersey Boys is about Frankie Valli, the lead vocalist with the silken falsetto, and the rest of the original Four Seasons – Bob Gaudio, the songwriter with a Midas Touch, Tommy DeVito, the group’s founder with a rap sheet, and Nick Massi, the steady bassist.

The legendary doo-wop four-part harmony group was responsible for such classic hits as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Oh What a Night,” “Working My Way Back to You,”  “Big Girls Don’t Cry,”  “Walk Like A Man,” and “My Eyes Adored You.”

They consistently topped the charts from the 1960s to the 1970s, with contemporaries that range from the Beach Boys of California, The Four Tops, Diana Ross and the Supremes of Motown – they would eventually  join Motown as one of the record label’s first caucasian groups. Among their contemporaries were also the British Invasion’s Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and the Disco Era’s Bee Gees. Barry Gibb even wrote the song “Grease,” which Frankie Valli sang for the movie adaptation of the musical of the same name.

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions  

In 1990, the complete Four Seasons reunited for a performance as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for selling over 100 million records worldwide. Today, Frankie Valli continues to perform and tour.

The Jersey Boys musical premiered in 2005 with music by Four Seasons original member Bob Gaudio, lyrics by the Four Seasons’ real-life record producer Bob Crewe, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and with a story based on the testimonials of the surviving members of the group at the time – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito, as well as the family of the late Mafia boss Gyp DeCarlo. To their credit, the Four Seasons decided to distance themselves from the rest of the creative process to allow better objectivity and creative freedom.

The Jersey Boys won Best New Musical at the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards in London, Best Musical Show Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards, and, since its premier on  November 6, 2005, has become the the 12th longest-running show in Broadway history. 

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

The Jersey Boys is as much about music as it is about the subculture of the Italian American community of New Jersey – that bit of Americana popularized by mafia movies such as Goodfellas and Casino starring the likes of Joe Pesci, who plays a vital role in the history of the Four Seasons – and musicals such as Grease

Yes, this musical does get its audiences singing their seats. You can’t help it. But unlike other musicals that are just poorly constructed excuses to rehash old songs that audiences know by heart, The Jersey Boys has a true-to-life and previously unheard story that’s eventful, insightful, intriguing, heartrending, and inspiring. 

Yes, is about 1960s era America just like Grease, West Side Story, and Dream Girls. But unlike other period musicals that idealize and sanitize the era, The Jersey Boys reveals criminal records and mob ties, drugs and divorce, and even the contradictions between the recollections of its protagonists are acknowledged, a la Rashomon. These wise guys from the hood were no choir boys, they themselves admit. It’s that reality that makes this musical and the songs it revives all the more meaningful and poignant. 

A slice of Jersey in Manila

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

Nyoy Volante, famous as an acoustic balladeer, has long been in musical theater since his days at New Voice Company and has starred in productions such as Rent, Hairspray, Rock of Ages, In the Heights, Legally Blonde the Musical, and Shrek the Musical. 

Christian Bautista, a heartthrob known across Southeast Asia, has starred in West Side Story, Ghost: The Musical, and Cinderella.

Markki Stroem, gaining renown for his roles in mainstream television and indie film roles, gained recognition in Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady.

Nino Alejandro is perhaps best known for his performances as a finalist on televsion singing contest The Voice but is also a longtime musician – check out his remarkable range.

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

Volante, Bautista, Stroem, and Alejandro play Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi, respectively. The many notable performances also include Jamie Wilson as mob boss Gyp DeCarlo.

The creative team includes director Bobby Garcia, choreographer Cecile Martinez, musical director Ceejay Javier, lighting designer Driscoll Otto, sound designer Justin Stasiw, vocal coach Manman Angsico, scenic Design Faust Peneyra, costume designer Edwin Tan, projection design by GA Fallarme and hair and makeup designer Johann Dela Fuente.

Photo courtesy of Atlantis Productions

Many theater productions regularly cast showbiz stars for entertainment media mileage, product sponsorship, and mainstream audience appeal, despite not being the best thespians for the job. With this production, each actor rightfully takes his place among this stellar cast through the sheer merit of their artistry. The acting of lesser thespians would have suffered from the focus on hitting the high notes and getting the Jersey accent right. But not Volante, nor the rest of his fellow cast mates. Both Volante’s singing and acting reveal so much soulfulness and tenderness. He brought audiences to tears, made them sing along and laugh. You should experience it, too. – Rappler.com

Atlantis Productions’ The Jersey Boys performs on weekends until October 16 at the Meralco Theatre, Pasig City. For tickets, visit www.TicketWorld.com.ph, call (+632)8919999 or  (+632)6505144.

Writer, graphic designer, and business owner Rome Jorge is passionate about the arts. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of asianTraveler Magazine, Lifestyle Editor of The Manila Times, and cover story writer for MEGA and Lifestyle Asia Magazines, Rome Jorge has also covered terror attacks, military mutinies, and mass demonstrations as well as reproductive health, gender equality, climate change, HIV/AIDS and other important issues. He is also the proprietor of Strawberry Jams Music Studio.

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