By Jessica Kennedy.
Don’t miss your chance to see the Long Island premiere of the smash hit musical Jersey Boys, playing from August 4th- September 10th at the historic Gateway Playhouse in Bellport. Directed by Larry Raben, this lyrical powerhouse of a show will leave you humming, oh what a night!
This Tony, Grammy, and Olivier award-winning Best Musical opened on Broadway in 2005– and has been wowing audiences ever since! It is a jukebox style show with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe. While I have seen several shows in this format before, I found the extra layer of it framed as a documentary very engaging and intriguing. As the aphorism goes, not all is what it seems to be; this could not be a more apt observation of the story contained within this three hour performance. The dramatization of the creation, rise, and fall of musical group The Four Seasons is told in segments, narrated by the original group members. These individuals are the quintessential unreliable narrators; each share their version of events, including ideas and perspectives that range from casually romanticized to surely fantastical. These shifts in perspective make for a layered storyline that compliments the complexity of this period in time– and the men who lived in it.
Beyond loving the format of this show, I was completely blown away by the talent selected to showcase it! Kudos to Casting Director Rachel Armistead for selecting a troupe that was immensely engaging and talented from curtain to curtain. Pablo David Laucerica’s portrayal of Frankie Valli was simply outstanding; his melodic and powerful falsetto voice was entrancing to hear in songs like “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Travis Murad Leland balanced his charm and his guile seamlessly as Tommy DeVito, the continually troubled founder of the group, while also beautifully crooning classics like “Earth Angel.” Lukas Poost played the naive and methodical Bob Gaudio with true passion and effortless stage presence. His version of “December, 1963” is still pleasantly ringing in my ears! Matt Faucher’s version of Nick Massi was equally impressive to watch and hear! Faucher’s full-bodied bass was the perfect compliment to the foursome, and his ability to create such depth in his voice and in his character portrayal is notable.
All in all, this show was a real treat! So grab a seat, close your eyes, and lose yourself in the music of one of the most infamous rock bands of the 1960s.
Be advised for young viewers that this show contains coarse language and mature themes throughout.