Music: Bob Gaudio
Lyrics: Bob Crewe
Writer: Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Director: Des McAnuff
It is over 60 years since 1962 when the Four Seasons had their first hit, and this is the 20th anniversary UK tour of the documentary style jukebox musical based on their story and their songs. The show spends a little too long in the back story extending the first act to 75 minutes but once the group renames itself, in 1960, as the Four Seasons, after a bowling alley sign, the show takes off with the hits weaved into the narrative.
The book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is based on separate interviews with each surviving original band member and reveals the difficult back story of prison sentences, involvement with the mob and broken relationships from their different perspectives. It begins in the Spring narrated by Tommy DeVito, the band founder, played by Carlo Boumouglbay who is the driving force behind the band’s formation but not always driving them in the right direction. In Summer Bob Gaudio (Toby Miles) takes over, he is the composer whose tunes deliver the success and yet is a reluctant performer. In Autumn, Nick Massi (Lewis Kennedy) takes over as the tensions between the original four start to drive them apart. Always on the point of leaving to start his own band he finally leaves in 1965 and although he joins them for induction in the Hall of Fame in 1990. The final segment, Winter, is narrated by Frankie Valli (Luke Baker) and covers the period when he was the sole surviving original member and is backed by a new Four Seasons.
It is a clever devise and brings emotional insight into the characters and in the second half dramatic tension that lifts the show beyond the many rather saccharine bland jukebox shows that have come to the stage over recent years. Their criminality, language and behaviours are all shown.
This touring production is by the same creative team led by director Des McAnuff who won a Tony for the show on Broadway and an Olivier in the West End together with Sergio Trujillo who won a Drama Desk Award on Broadway and another Olivier in London. In particular the live camera shots projected from the stage as they recreate two TV appearances are very well choreographed and executed. It is a fast-paced slick show moving swiftly between multiple locations, backed by some colourful Lichtenstein style cartoon illustrations with some songs cut short to keep the story moving along.
Of course, the real appeal of the show is the music and unique sound recreated by the band under musical director Lauren Ronan and the vocals of Valli. Hits like “Sherry” (1962), “Big girls don’t cry” (1962), “Walk like a man” (1963),” Bye Bye Baby” (1965), “Working my way back to you” (1966) , and “Can’t take my eyes off of you” (1967) from the original line up and “My Eyes Adored you” (1974),”Who loves you” (1975), and “Fallen Angel” (1976) from the later line up show what an incredible enduring band they were. It is the music and the distinctive sound of the group that will keep audiences returning and makes the show enjoyable even if the episodic narrative at times relies too much on exposition.
Until Saturday 29 August, then on tour.
