BWW Reviews: JERSEY BOYS, New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham, December 10 2014

Following the exciting press launch a couple of months ago, Jersey Boys had been eagerly anticipated in Birmingham and the New Alexandra Theatre are proud to be hosting the production for the festive season. It was a packed house for the press night last night and they thoroughly deserved their full standing ovation. Some people didn't even wait until the finale but between musical numbers; thus showing the power that the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons still has decades later.

Jersey Boys is essentially a jukebox musical but unlike any other. There is real truth and heart to the story and along with telling the story of how Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons came to have worldwide success, it also tells their personal stories. Frankie experienced severe heartache on too many occasions and the emotion of this is definitely helped by the repetition of specific direction. This, together with the incredible songs that Bob Gaudio wrote and composed, means the show is a winner before it even starts.

Tim Driesen is an excellent Valli. It is a supremely difficult role to play and the falsetto vocals are paramount. I would say nine times out of ten his singing is perfect but occasionally it wavers, predominantly on vocal entrances. Stephen Webb is an astounding Tommy Devito and plays the arrogance and passion really well. Local performer Sam Ferriday is cast extremely well as Bob Gaudio and the mastermind of the quartet. Nick Massi, is played by Lewis Griffiths, who gives a smouldering performance with his bass vocal tones. All capture the men's stories with emotion and grit and their harmonies are sublime

The show is fast paced and slick and does not give any opportunity for error. Director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo ensure smooth transitions between scenes and effectively see that Rick Elice's book is fully realised. The set design by Klara Zieglerova is ultimately the same as the West End production minus the automated platform that can set scenes at substage level so regional audiences really are getting a true representation of the show that has been appreciated all over the world. Many of the scenes are created by furniture and props but the truss surrounding the stage and the levels make for great staging. Howell Binkley's lighting complements the set and costumes well but it is incredibly localised sometimes so cast members/furniture need to be in exactly the right place to be in their light. There were a few instances when this didn't happen and the followspots were a little haphazard at times but in general the design is superb.

Jersey Boys plays at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham until 4 January 2015 and continues to tour throughout next year.