Perfectly staged with powerhouse performance from the ensemble, as well as potent music that will have you tapping to its rhythm in no time, Jersey Boys hits the perfect note every time. You don't have to know anything about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, or even be an ardent musical fan, but after experiencing the wave of energy that hits the audience, you will want to know everything about them.
This unforgettable story of dreamers becoming idols, and how passion sustains its beguiling and enduring enchantment, was created and written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice; Bob Guido's music and Bob Crewe's lyrics evokes a warm nostalgia, with great musical direction, vocal arrangements and incidental music by Ron Melrose, and imaginative direction by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff .
Following its sell-out runs in Singapore, Joburg and now Cape Town, the cast wears the show like a glove; the comfort and ease with which they infuse the story is electrifying and emotionally involving.
The ensemble really enjoys what they are doing and their passion is well received by the audience, with well-deserved spontaneous applause and a standing ovation at the end of each performance, underlining its powerful impact. From its opening scene, the audience wholeheartedly hands itself over to the energy and slick realisation of a story that not only changed the lives of four boys from New Jersey, but the world of musical theatre. It's one of those rare musicals that's not only about the spectacle, but an intimate journey into the lives of its vibrant characters, offering a perfect balance between the drama and the music.
The quick-fire pace of the myriad scene changes, which form powerful vignettes within the bigger picture, are the heart and soul of the story, offering drama, humour and poignant introspective reflections that spill over into musical numbers. Another interesting aspect of the production is how the point of view shifts during the telling of the story. When they are performing numbers like Sherry and Walk Like A Man to an imagined TV audience off stage, the scene is then performed to the live audience and evokes the exact response that turned their songs into gold - the audience becomes a character in the show; its response to what is happening on stage and reaction to the action evokes an emotional visceral experience. There is connection between the sum total of what the story is about, its parts, the music, and the characters, with the cast never faltering in delivering their best.
Daniel Buys is sensational as Tommy de Vito; he owns the stage and commands the spotlight with his charm; Kenneth Meyer shines as Bob Guido and Emmanuel Castis will totally bowl you over with his powerhouse performance as Nick Massi. The role of Frankie Valli is shared by Grant Almirall and Jaco van Rensburg, who both bring their own unique musical talent and sparkling personalities to the role.
Other notable performances are delivered by Charlie Bouguenon, who is terrific as the mobster Gyp de Carlo; Matt Counihan will steal your heart as the motor-mouth Joeye; Duane Alexander delivers an unforgettable performance as Record Producer Bob Crewe; with great support from Taryn-Lee Hudson as Mary Delgado, and Kirsten Murphy Rossiter as Francine. Under musical supervision in South Africa of Bryan Schimmel, the sensational cast delivers a first-rate musical production.
You will laugh, you will cry, and you will most definitely sing along to songs that changed the world. It's a flawless musical gem that you have to experience and cannot miss. The company continues the magic with a tour to Turkey in November and then to Korea in January.
Performances this final week at Artscape opera: Tuesday to Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 3pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm and 6pm. Book at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on +27 (0)21 421 7695.
The runaway worldwide smash hit musical Jersey Boys, winner of 54 major awards, including the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and winner of the Best Musical Tony Award on Broadway, in London and Australia is not a tribute band but a full-scale Broadway musical that takes audiences behind the music to tell the story of the group through each of the four members' perspectives. The storyline weaves a tale about friendships, hardships, fights and the success resulting from a New Jersey "handshake".
The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy deVito and Nick Massi wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records globally - all before they were 30! "I first saw Jersey Boys in 2007 in New York - the show was a monster hit and the hottest property on Broadway. It was love at first sight! And so began a six-year journey to bring this exceptional show to South Africa - with a South African cast," said Hazel Feldman, Jersey Boys SA producer.
"It's a gem - a true and brutally honest and compelling story with sensational music and a dramatic edge. It's a timeless piece that is as relevant today as when it first opened. The challenge was to convince the Broadway Producers and creative team that South Africa had the talent to perform and present this unique musical - and I could not be prouder of this entire team of South African performers, musicians and crew. This proudly South African company has been proclaimed equal to the very best in the world".
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