Paper Mill Playhouse’s season opening “Jersey Boys” is a sing along, full on slice of Garden State life. Told from the perspective of each of the original Four Seasons, starting with Tommy DeVito (Jake Bentley Young) we continue through seasoned hit songwriter and final Season Bob Gaudio (Ben Diamond) in Act 1 then move with Frankie Vally (Daniel Quadrino) finishing with the strong and mostly silent Nick Massi (Robert Lenzi). These four together are very believable as brothers in song and what songs – toes tapping and audience singing lightly along are part of the whole experience and you will know 95-100% of every one of those songs. If one escaped you, it will be a new favorite as well.
The audience on opening night was multi-generational and from many cultures. Music is a language we all speak as are Family, Ambition, Change and Love. Every one of these is present and even though we know not everyone is perfect, and the pain of learning how not-perfect those we love can be, the connections we make throughout our lives are the ones that sustain even while giving pain. Much of the backstory of this iconic group fascinated me all the more for being new. Frequently, we see just one facet when we all contain so much more.
The brilliant supporting ensemble includes Jeremy Gaston, Nick Duckart, Tyler Okunski, Reagan Pender, Nathan Lucrezio and Jarran Muse playing all the men with Holli Conway, Amber Ardolino and Kaitlyn Frank as the women with so much dancing, lightning costume changes, and singing from the depths and heights of Kelly James Tighe’s iconic set. Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice’s Book with Bob Gaudio’s music and Bob Crewe’s lyrics make this like a family album that shows us the history from the black and white photos through Polaroids and prints through the digital age all in the span of a couple of hours. This show is for all generations and while your parents may remember when, you’ll be working on how you’ll be able to listen to the entire Four Seasons catalog. Get your tickets this instant, or you’ll suffer FOMO the rest of the season.
Sing along with many of your favorite songs: https://my.papermill.org/overview/jb . “Jersey Boys” runs through November 3 so get your tickets now. This is an auspicious beginning for a great season. Subscribe now.