Leeds Grand Theatre – until Saturday 1 December
5*****
Oh What A Night – not quite late December 1963, but late November 2018 with a Gala Production of Jersey Boys to celebrate the Grand’s 140th Birthday.
Confusingly, with the exception of Frankie Valli, the Seasons were covered by their understudies. But this should not put you off – the whole cast are exceptionally fantastic whether a main part, an understudy or a swing. Having the alternate cast on just shows how versatile they all are.
Telling the story of the Four Seasons, each member tells their own story in their own season (Tommy – Spring, Bob – Summer, Nick – Fall and Frankie – Winter), each one giving their own version of the gritty truthful tale.
We start with Spring and Tommy DeVito (Peter Nash), founder member of the group the was eventually to become The Four Seasons – named after a bowling alley that were banned from performing at. DeVito, along with Nick Massi (Karl James Wilson) discover the golden voice of Frances Castelluccio and Frankie Valli (Michael Watson) was born. When singer/songwriter and one hit wonder Bob Gaudio (James Winter) joins the group it seems success is just around the corner. A meeting with music producer Bob Crewe (Joel Elferink) ensures that it happens with Sherry being the first of many hit records.
We get to see some of the personal high’s and low’s of the band, the break of up Frankie’s marriage and the death of his daughter. Tommy’s money problems with the mob, Nick deciding to leave the band mid tour and the night in late December 1963 when Bob lost his virginity.
The joyous falsetto of Frankie Valli is obvious in the many many songs Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man (which stopped the middle of the first act it was so good), My Eyes Adored You, Beggin’, Let’s Hang On, Bye Bye Baby, Working My Way Back to You and Rag Doll among the many others.
The very simple set design means things flow without the need for scene changes, the live band (Francis Goodhand, Sarah Burrell, Ed Hewlett, Christian Sutherland, Sam Edington) off stage and the drummer (Samuel Firsht) who glides across the stage on his rig are wonderful to listen to.
This is a brilliant night out, good music, great acting and wonderful atmosphere, in fact the only thing I would complain about it is that the songs are so good, you want to be up dancing long before the finale