Oh, what a night! Last night I had the pleasure of seeing The Jersey Boys at The Orchard Theatre, Dartford and boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy it did not disappoint! I always love the nostalgia of shows like these; seeing how the band was formed, their journey and how (often) they become unstuck, finally ending with a "where are they now?". I enjoyed it when I saw The Buddy Holly Story and The Committments, and I loved it in The Jersey Boys last night. What made this particular show very special, was the heart behind the storyline, of loyalty and friendship and, it must be said, the sheer talent of the cast.
The entire company were slick, entertaining and talented, each playing multi-roles to show us the journey of The Jersey Boys and each bringing fantastic energy to each of their roles. The show is fast-paced and entertaining and the set, lights and costumes all contributed to an exciting evening.
However, the stand outs for me, quite rightly, were the 'boys' themselves. Individually, very strong, fantastic accents (clear and easy to listen to, which doesn't always happen when the New Jersey accent is delivered in the UK) with incredible voices and fantastic story-telling. However, when they performed together, they elevated to another level. Their harmonies, their blending, their tight choreography, their characters... an absolute joy to watch! Not often am I tempted to see a show again immediately upon leaving the auditorium, but I could happily go and watch The Jersey Boys every night of the week.
Michael Pickering, in the role of Frankie Valli was exceptional. Not only had he perfected Frankie's famous vocals, but he really told the story of Frankie's life with care. He provided us with some of the most exciting and some of the most heart-breaking moments in the show. Dalton Wood's portrayal of Tommy DeVito was also filled with many layers and performed to perfection. All four of the "boys" had exceptional vocals and many of the songs had audience members "whooping" and cheering in delight. This is not one to miss.
The Jersey Boys is playing at The Orchard Theatre until 22nd January, it's definitely one to see!
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