Jersey Boys

Musicals

West End

Prince Edward Theatre

Until Sun Oct 20

David, Ryan, Edd & Jon

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg
Cast of Jersey Boys

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg
Ryan, Edd, Jon & David

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg
Edd, Ryan, Jon & David

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg
David, Ryan, Edd & Jon

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

David, Ryan, Edd & Jon

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg

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Time Out says

Thu Apr 14 2011

Here's the 'Jersey Boys' concept. Take one gleaming back-catalogue – that of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, whose Bob Gaudio-penned songs have become so woven into the fabric of Western pop culture that it's easy to forget who actually wrote them. Next, instead of torturously extrapolating a zany plot out of the lyrics, simply make the story of 'Jersey Boys' the story of the Four Seasons. Get a top-notch book, written by Rick Elice and Woody Allen collaborator Marshall Brickman. Hire a director, Des McAnuff, who doesn't let extended song and dance routines get in the way of a playful, incident-packed story that's not afraid to play a little hard and fast with chronology. Combine, and you have not only one of the best shows in town, but an object lesson in how the whole benighted jukebox musical sub-genre can spawn a genuine classic.

It's therefore not a surprise to note that there have been few changes at the Prince Edward Theatre over the last three years. Supporting cast members have come and gone, but the prodigiously-piped, wonderfully craggy Ryan Molloy is still front and centre as Frankie Valli most nights (though former S Club 7 member Jon Lee now subs for him on occasion).

The current crop Seasons are great fun: Matthew Wycliffe's nerdy nice guy Gaudio and Jon Boydon's wiseass Tommy DeVito engage as the two men fighting for the soul of the band, while the Lurch-like Eugene McCoy makes the role of bassist Nick Massi his own.

But it's the book that emerges as star. The story of 'Jersey Boys' is the story of most musicians who went from bluecollar roots to more success than they could handle. What's great about Ellis and Brickman's telling of the tale is not only its ready wit and refusal and obvious effection for its subjects, but also the poignancy in the shift of narratorial duties from Tommy DeVito to Bob Gaudio. By the second half DeVito has lost his grip on band, show and himself. And in the background Molloy's Valli grows subtly in stature, from runty street rat to troubled father, but always with those formidable pipes, the like of 'Rag Doll', 'Walk Like A Man' and 'Big Girls Don't Cry' still intoxicatingly odd a half century on.

Critics' choice

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Venue details

MAP

Name:
Prince Edward Theatre
Address:
Prince Edward Theatre 28 Old Compton St
W1D 4HS

Transport:
Tube: Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Sq
Map
1. Prince Edward Theatre
  - 28 Old Compton St
    W1D 4HS
  - 51.513755,-0.130926

Event phone:
0871 716 7960
Event website:
www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk

Categories:
Theatre. West End. Musicals
Occasions:
Dinner and a show. Going in a group
Type of event:
Plays and shows

Jersey Boys 2013

Date Time Price information
Wed Jun 19

19:30

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Thu Jun 20

19:30

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Fri Jun 21

19:30

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Sat Jun 22

15:00

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets

19:30
Sun Jun 23

17:00

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Tue Jun 25

15:00

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets

19:30
Wed Jun 26

19:30

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Thu Jun 27

19:30

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Fri Jun 28

19:30

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets
Sat Jun 29

15:00

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets

19:30
Sun Jun 30

17:00

£22.50-£95. Runs 2hrs 35mins. Booking to Oct 20 2013
Buy tickets

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Comments & ratings

(2 ratings)

Just awful. It sounded bad - that guy from S Club trying in vain to sound like Frankie Valli and just doing some high-pitch wailing - and it looked bad: normally musicals at least give you some kind of visual spectacle but they just tried different ways of standing still and trying to sing. And the stage was dirty and looked like a GCSE drama studio. In fact the whole thing was little better than a school play. All for £40 in the Gods... save your time, save your money, and save your ears.

Paul Sat Nov 10 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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Best west end show I have seen so far

Steph Hulme Thu May 17 2012
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Jersey Boys

David, Ryan, Edd & Jon

Cast of Jersey Boys

Ryan, Edd, Jon & David

Edd, Ryan, Jon & David

David, Ryan, Edd & Jon

David, Ryan, Edd & Jon

Time Out rating:

User ratings:

Time Out says

Venue details

Map

Jersey Boys 2013

Comments & ratings

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