|
|
|
|
|
Oh What a
Night
New Jersey
Nights Grand
Theatre, Wolverhampton ****
New Jersey Nights
is an interesting phenomena. The fifties, sixties and seventies spawned
a slew of memorable popular music, the originators of which are now
largely either dead, or in their dotage.
First, tribute bands came along to keep their memory alive, then came
stage musicals. New Jersey Nights
develops the lineage by capitalising on the success of another stage
musical, The Jersey Boys,
and also showcases the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons who
were played by John Hawkins, Ricki Rojas, Damion Scarcella and Simon
Schofield. fThe three part harmony behind
Valli's soaring falsetto voice are convincing but the star of the show
is offstage, songwriter Bob Gaudio , whose songwriting is celebrated in
this show. The credentials of the Four
Seasons are impressive. An American band from New Jersey, they became
internationally successful in the mid-1960s. Since 1970, they have also
been known as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In 1960, the group known as
the Four Lovers evolved into the Four Seasons, with Frankie Valli as the
lead singer, Bob Gaudio (formerly of the Royal Teens) on keyboards and
tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick
Massi on bass guitar and bass vocals. They were inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and joined the Vocal Group Hall of
Fame in 1999. They are one of the best-selling musical groups of all
time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. A jukebox musical in concert
form with a live band on stage, not only are all the hits dispatched,
but also a sprinkling of other period songs are included. Female dancers
and backing singers create a cabaret style feel to flesh out the
restrictions of four men behind a microphone. The classics, such as Big
Girls Don’t Cry, Sherry, Walk Like A Man and My Eyes Adored You,
were spot on, the covers , Be My Baby, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, My
Girl and Da Doo Ron Ron bubbled and burned. The upbeat first
half is slowed down for the opening of the second set, with a number of
ballads, but picks up for the last quarter of the show, bringing the
audience to their feet to sing and dance in the aisles. There is no
shortage of material upon which to draw.
The show is a spectacular
celebration of the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and
takes the audience on a nostalgic musical journey through the career of
one of the biggest selling groups of all time. From the back street
studio in New Jersey where it all began, this vibrant production
includes all of The Four Seasons greatest hits. While the music soars, the
production values are more modest, the set is minimalist , and
the supporting choreography sometimes awkward , but the main numbers
are performed with ebullience and gusto . The vocals and harmonies are
uniformly strong, such that they are spotlighted in an acapella section
including a comedy introduction to Blue Moon and the highlight of
the evening, Silence is Golden. You can catch up with the fun
at the Grand, which had the audience on their feet and hollering for
more, to 23-11-13. Gary
Longden And
from the other side of Memory Lane . . . ****
AS soon as the four very talented male singers in this show open
up with Oh What A
Night the audience
get the feeling they will be going home thinking just that. What a
night! And so it proves; a non-stop
journey through a host of hits in a tribute mainly to the 60s music of
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The numbers are instantly
recognisable and thoroughly enjoyable, with a rousing finale, which has
nearly everyone on their feet. It's not a musical with a
story, but more of a concert which features smartly-dressed Jon Hawkins,
Ricki Rojas, Damion Scarcella and Simon Schofield, four young men with a
pleasing range of voices who are able to turn on the falsetto whenever
necessary. They all perform solos
impressively and excel as a group in songs like Sherry, Big Girls
Don't Cry and Walk Like a Man. In the second half they
deliver such favourites as Why Do Fools Fall in Love and Will
You Still Love Me Tomorrow. Six dancers - three men, three
women - add a generous helping of glamour to the show, and the four
piece band, perched on a platform at the rear of the stage, perform
superbly. The sets are fairly basic, a
small bar and a section of a recording studio, but the backdrop of
multi-coloured twinkling lights creates a good atmosphere for the
company's world tour. To 23.11.13 Paul Marston
|
|
|
|
