Jersey Boys: The jukebox musical lives! Sing Hallelujah!

This has got to be the hottest ticket in town and I still managed to score a great seat (N18) for the Playbill advertised discount price! The house was full. And what wonderfully targeted show. As we were standing outside waiting for the house to open, I overheard people saying "I can't wait to hear our music!" This was an audience primed and ready, and being a huge Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons fan (I used to play "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" ad nauseum on the piano when I wasn't playing "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love"), so was I. The show didn't disappoint.

What a great frikkin' show. I cannot wait to see it again! The book which was fabulous -- great characterizations, funny, very Jersey (very Goodfellas) -- was written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The music was by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. The cast were also spectacular -- John Lloyd Young is Frankie Valli, Daniel Reichard is Bob Gaudio, Christian Hoff is Tommy Devito and J. Robert Spencer is Nick Massi. I think my favorite of the four is Daniel Reichard. Don't get me wrong, John Lloyd Young does a great Frankie, but I think Daniel is my fav because Bob Gaudio was the writer in the group.

However, Peter Gregus (who plays Bob Crewe and others) has the best bio in the program. I'll give you a taste:

Peter Gregus: Career lowlights: Elf (Macy's), 10-Foot Day-glo Frog (Radio City), Elf (MSG, better costume, still an Elf) Dean Martin's Head (Radio City)...hey, work's work!

The music, the cast, the pacing, and the real story were all wonderful. I teared up, I got chills, I sang, I clapped, and I wished I had been born 25 years earlier!

Some of the numbers were done just as performances, and some of the songs were done to tell parts of the story. Both were effective. There was a standing ovation partway through the Second Act for "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", and of course at the end the audience threw themselves out of their seats en masse for a thundering ovation.

I walked home singing "Who Loves You" and "Let's Hang On to what We've Got"...

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