REVIEW: EXUBERANT CELEBRATION OF ROCK 'N' ROLL LEGENDS, "JERSEY BOYS" GOES PLATINUM @ THE PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE

 

By Ruth Ross

It’s nostalgic. It’s a toe-tapper. It’s the soundtrack of my teenage and young adult years—of which I know every lyric (but cannot recall my passwords)!

It’s a tale of broken relationships—familial and collegial—and remarkable success. It’s the price of fame and the loss of self. Despite its lack of nuance and deep character development, it’s a moving tale of how four guys from nearby Belleville went from singing under the corner streetlight to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

It’s Jersey Boys, the jukebox musical now rocking the stage at the Paper Mill Playhouse in an exhilarating performance of a show that played on Broadway for years with such hits as “Sherry,” “Let’s Hang On,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”

The show, presented as a documentary, is narrated by three members of the group—the callow “criminal” Tommy DeVito (an arrogant Jake Bentley Young); the composer and “brains” Bob Gaudio (a level-headed Ben Diamond); and talented, hyper Frankie Valli né Francesco Castelluccio (the falsetto-voiced Daniel Quadrino)—and follows their trajectory through the various phases of their career. These sections of dialogue are interrupted by 34 rousing renditions of the group’s greatest hits. The result is an exuberant celebration of the groups that populated the cataclysm of rock ‘n’ roll music in 1960. That the group was popular through the Eisenhower-John Glenn-British invasion-disco years is a testament to their musicianship and evidence of their being one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. (Above L-R: Daniel Quadrino, Ben Diamond, Jake Bentley Young, Robert Lenz as the Four Lovers)

On a spare set of scaffolding and stairs (left) designed by Kelly James Tighe, Director Michael Bello masterfully keeps the action moving swiftly through the decades and drama. Young, Diamond, Quadrino and Robert Lenzi as Nick Massi (who quits the group because he’s tired of being “Ringo”) sing beautifully and engage in some fancy footwork choreographed by Kyli Rae. A large group of actors in myriad roles offers terrific support.

Costumes by Julie Thiry-Couvillion and wigs by Ashley Rae Callahan transport us back 44 years, while Paige Seber’s atmospheric lighting enhances the drama. Sound designer Megumi Katayama ensures that Geoffrey Ko’s terrific musical direction never overpowers the performers (the orchestra is at the back of the stage, unseen).

In an era of rap and heavy metal, one might wonder why a musical about the early years of rock ‘n’ roll would be worth producing on Broadway nearly 20 years ago, let alone mounting a production now. As noted, for me—and many other, older audience members—it was a trip down memory lane to a time when one could understand the lyrics and sing along with gusto, especially in the car! But there were many young people in the audience who appreciated the music and showmanship; their smiling faces and tapping toes attest to the popularity and longevity of this (for the most part) joyous music.

Frankie Valli, who went on to become “Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons” with other musicians and solo after the original group broke up, is 90 years old, bless him. He’d be very proud of this production.

So, as an antidote to a constant barrage of war talk, political turmoil, even chaotic work or home situations, you won’t want to miss Jersey Boys at the venerable Paper Mill Playhouse. It’s a far cry from Oklahoma, the first professional production I saw there in 1955 (groundbreaking when it debuted in the 1940s), but its polished exuberance and immense talent make it the perfect inaugural production of the Playhouse’s 2024-2025 season. Catch it before it closes on November 3. And bring the kids; it’s pretty PG rated.

Jersey Boys will be performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, through November 3. For information and tickets, call the box office at 973.376.4343 or visit www.PaperMill.org online.

Photos by Jeremy Daniel