Jersey Boys at Flat Rock Playhouse
Theatergoers who sit down for Flat Rock Playhouse’s production of Jersey Boys might initially think they’re at the wrong show.
But after a confusing, borderline incomprehensible opening in which a hip-hop group performs a French dance remix of “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” the jukebox musical settles into a far more relatable groove as the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons unfolds.
Under the steady hand of director/choreographer Candi Boyd, Jersey Boys moves like well-oiled Detroit machinery, though, as the title suggests, this is firmly a tale rooted in the Garden State. And while stage-lining urban scenery designed by Natalie Rose Mabry reminds all involved and watching of the hold that the musicians’ native Belleville, New Jersey, has on them, everyone also gets transported across the U.S. via bravado scenic movements and Mabry’s subtle projection work that helpfully displays the city and/or venue at hand.
The on-screen text also identifies the show’s numerous historical players. The gifted quartet playing artists Frankie Valli (Courter Simmons), Tommy DeVito (Kyle Southern), Nick Massi (Randy Cain), and Bob Gaudio (Nikita Burshteyn) stick with that one role, enriching the production with lived-in performances that make them a joy to encounter over the course of 2.5 hours.
With the exception of Brendan Malafronte’s comparably strong turn as Brill Building producer Bob Crewe, the rest of the ensemble have “main” characters they play, but also seamlessly inhabit a range of other figures, making the 12-person cast feel much larger than it actually is. The active book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice keeps these dozen actors in near constant motion, while Tim Barham’s costumes and Brittany V.A. Rappise’s hair and makeup nail the period look.
Strong as all these elements are, the main attraction remains the Four Seasons’ music — and this cast and crew don’t disappoint. It’s always a bit jarring to first hear Valli’s distinct falsetto, but Simmons quickly shows his vocal range and stamina, and lovingly harmonizes with Southern, Cain, and Burshteyn. “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Bye Bye Baby,” “Working My Way Back to You,” and especially “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” have rarely sounded this good.
Steering Jersey Boys’ hit parade is a smokin’ unseen band in the Playhouse rafters, led by music director Ethan Andersen. And on multiple occasions, guitar-wielding actors pantomime the parts so convincingly that it’s easy to wonder who’s actually making the rocking sounds.
Together, this talented bunch gets FRP’s season off to an electrifying start and suggests that plenty more terrific productions await this year.
Jersey Boys runs through Saturday, June 1, at Flat Rock Playhouse. For details and tickets, visit flatrockplayhouse.org
(Photos: Scott Treadway/Treadshots)
