The legends of the group Franki Valli and the Four Seasons left a mark on all who saw Palo Alto Players’ “Jersey Boys.” The group came to life with the impressive costumes, music and set design that depicted the various group members and their experiences in the group.
“Jersey Boys” was an interesting tale that weaved through the four group members’ lives. Doug Santana, the director of “Jersey Boys,” said this production celebrates the Top 40 hits of the 1960s and is an entertaining show that honors and appreciates the marks of achievements of the Four Seasons.
Throughout the night, I couldn’t help but sing along to all the familiar music such as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Earth Angel,” and “Sherry.” A lot of people around me as well were clapping or stopping their feet to the beat and it felt like a concert from another era.
Franki Valli (James J. Jones), Tommy DeVito (Tyler Savin), Nick Massi (Justin Kerekes) and Bob Gaudio (Andrew Cope) all shined as singers and gave insight into their personalities and personal lives. There were many tensions between the actual group during their two-decade stint together, and the raw talent and appreciation for music from the actors was interesting to see play out knowing their turmoil.
Jones’ performance as Valli moved the show along, starting with his soprano voice as a young kid gaining him the respect of other group members and the greater community where he grew up to becoming the group leader with a commanding off-stage presence. All the group members were able to escape the streets of Newark, New Jersey, but a lot of the turmoil of getting in trouble with the law, marital issues and substance abuse haunted them later in life.
All of the group members made a lot of sacrifices to give up quality time with their family and many of the group members did not find out until later if living a high life with record deals and traveling were all worth it.
As you learn in the show, the Four Seasons are not a typical group. They had a rough edge to them. They performed all over the world, but they always respected their heritage and never let their egos or fame get the best of them. There were some moments when the audience felt anger and utmost disrespect for some group members, but everyone held each other accountable for their mistakes.
“Jersey Boys” celebrates the story of long-lasting friendships and the idea of pursuing your dreams. The show kind of foretells that fame may damper the happiness one wants to seek but also that the journey of life is long and that there is always another side. All the actors gave me chills during the performance. Seeing them fumble a little bit in their early career and having music be used as a form of recovery shows that doing what you love can save you from your inner demons.
To learn more about “Jersey Boys” and to buy tickets, visit paplayers.org/event/jersey-boys.
