Jersey Boys. Slick production of musical bio in four seasons.

Photo. Broadway@calm  At one point during Jersey Boys, a few audience members spring to their feet to dance as they did in their teens when they were first enchanted by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. While it is a compliment to the performers that these women have been so transported, most of the rest of the audience simply sat back to see the high-energy production unfold and admire the slickness of Des McAnuff’s direction of the history of the rise, fall and return of four kids from the wrong side of the tracks.

A biographical musical with plenty of drama in the mob-connected lives of Valli and company, the storyline, told from four different viewpoints by each of the group members, is as strong as the hit songs that brought them fame in the 1960s and 1970s.

High and low points of their lives and relationships are well blended with the tale of how Valli and The Four Seasons came to their name and the format of lead singer backed by the group. Add to this strong singing and movement in this sparkling touring production, and there is little mystery about why this multi-awarding-winning musical continues to be so popular.

As Frankie Valli, Nick Cosgrove has the particularly difficult job of mimicking the singer’s signature falsetto and he copes well with the vocal challenges though he is less convincing in the scene covering his daughter’s death. Jason Kappus as the group’s composer/lyricist Bob Gaudio, Nicolas Dromard as petty crook/gambler Tommy DeVito and Brandon Andrus as bassist Nick Massi are all convincing in their roles and at the top of their form in presenting one hit number after another. Barry Anderson delivers a strong — if slightly over-the-top — version of producer Bob Crewe.

A show that sends the audience out smiling and humming.

Jersey Boys continues at the NAC to July 7

Jersey Boys

The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

Book by Martin Brickman and Rick Elice

Music by Bob Gaudio

Lyrics by Bob Crewe

Broadway Across Canada at the National Arts Centre

Director: Des McAnuff

Music director: Ron Melrose

Choreographer: Sergio Trujillo

Set: Klara Zieglerova

Costumes: Jess Goldstein

Cast:

Frankie Valli……………………………………………………………..Nick Cosgrove

Tommy DeVito………………………………………………………….Nicolas Dromard

Bob Gaudio………………………………………………………………Jason Kappus

Nick Massi……………………………………………………………….Brandon Andrus

Bob Crewe……………………………………………………………….Barry Anderson

Officer/Joe Long etc……………………………………………………..Tommaso Antico

Church lady/Angel etc……………………………………………………Kaleigh Cronin

Mary Delgado/Angel…………………………………………………….Marlana Dunn

Gyp DeCarlo etc………………………………………………………….Thomas Fiscella

French rap star/detective etc……………………………………………..De’Lon Grant

Joey etc……………………………………………………………………Ian Joseph

Nick DeVito etc………………………………………………………….John Rochette

Frankie’s mother/Francine etc……………………………………………Rachel Schur

Detective etc……………………………………………………………..Skye Scott

Thugs…………………………………