Arts > Theatre

Jersey Boys

08/07/15

The wildly popular Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical which tackles the story of the Four Seasons. Using the four band members to give different perspectives of why it worked and what went wrong, there’s something a bit special about this show. On its first tour of the UK we’re very lucky that the hugely popular show graced our fine city with its presence. This definitely isn’t a musical to take the kids to (with some blatant sexual references, oodles of profanity, and its fair share of drugs, violence and criminality), but it’s also not just one for perhaps your typical musical theatre crowd. I know the vast majority of people like their musicals dry and boring, so the warning on the ticket that “Patrons might dance at this show” may be a little worrying for some. Thankfully most of the audience managed to keep their frivolity to an absolute minimum, so it wasn’t too distasteful. This particular musical theatre phenomenon is a grower (not a shower). Starting slow, before working its way up to the tunes that everyone loves to have a cheeky little jive to, about half way through the first act is when Jersey Boys really hooks you. With familiar favourites such as Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and December 1963 (Oh What A Night), there’s likely to be a spot of audience karaoke before the interval. It’s not all about the music though. There’s some absolutely cracking one-liners, with the Lewis Griffiths’ Nick Massi getting some of the best. This is one not to miss. The whole cast was superb, and if you managed to get a ticket you won’t be disappointed. Let’s hope they drop in on the next tour!