
Quinn Corcoran, Joshua Charles Skurnik, Nathan Cockroft and Domenic Servidio star in Jersey Boys at Actors’ Playhouse (Photos by Alberto Romeu)
By Mariah Reed
During these turbulent and divided times, it is delightfully refreshing to be transported back to a time of innocence and hope, a time when four boys from immigrant families could rise to fame and glory through hard work and perseverance. Such is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, as colorfully depicted in Jersey Boys, now playing at the Actors’ Playhouse in Coral Gables.
To hear Artistic Director David Arisco tell it, the theater has been trying to obtain the rights to produce this Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning musical since its Broadway debut in 2005. Luckily for us, the rights were finally granted, and we can now witness the Miami regional premiere of this wildly popular musical in our own backyard.
We hear from Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi four different perspectives on how this rags to riches story came about. Though the details vary, each character affirms that the deep friendship each had for one another was a driving force that defined their journeys from the streets of New Jersey to International Superstardom.
As bassist Nick Massi asserts, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons were heroes to the blue-collar workers at a time when the British Invasion had a significant impact on American music and culture. Songs like “Walk Like a Man” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” galvanized the working class who identified with these struggling young men and dreamed of one day rising above their stations.
The timelessness and universality of the group’s music is evident from the start of this production. As the lights rise, we are in the year 2000, and a performer in flamboyant, vibrant, baggy pants, wearing loads of bling flounces onto stage and begins to rap in French. Before long we realize he is performing a cover of the song “Oh, What a Night.” The spectacle blends seamlessly into another version of the song performed in 1963 with the original band.
Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe, Jersey Boys is a remarkable homage to the immense talent that emerged from such humble beginnings and continues to be celebrated today.
As the night progresses it is rather startling to note just how many hits The Four Seasons recorded in a relatively short time. What has been less obvious is the trials and tribulations that the members of the group experienced to facilitate their rise to stardom, and the sacrifices that their success demanded.
Joshua Charles Skurnik is riveting as Frankie Valli, managing to expertly negotiate the arc of his character’s journey from innocent 16-year-old street urchin to jaded, grieving parent carrying an immense burden that threatens to overwhelm. Skurnik’s voice is equally impressive, as his powerful falsetto belts out Valli’s signature high notes with ease.
Nathan Cockroft as lead guitarist and band founder Tommy DeVito is a rakish charmer to be sure. His sly grin and wink aside, Cockroft delves deeply into DeVito’s character, making this anti-hero sympathetic indeed as his self-destructive behavior belies crushing insecurity and haunting self-doubt.
Quinn Corcoran is Bob Gaudio, the brilliant songwriter who penned most of the hits sung by Valli. Corcoran gives a standout performance as the one Italian from Jersey who never wants to go back. His evolution from nerdy boy genius to successful sage in the music production industry is believable and humbling. And when he sings, Corcoran elicits goosebumps with the crystalline clear tone of his smooth-as-honey voice.
Domenic Servidio as bassist Nick Massi displays layers of sensitivity and regret as he shares his view regarding the demise of the band. With an expert blend of frustration, humor, and rage he recounts his struggles dealing with fellow band-member DeVito’s behavior and life on the road. His three-dimensional depiction of a torn artist who is underappreciated by his colleagues shatters the illusion that all is perfect once success is achieved.
As Bob Crewe, producer to the band, Michael Scott Ross is a delight. Embodying his role with charm, wit, intelligence, and passion, Ross is simply mesmerizing. When he is onstage one cannot take one’s eyes off him. With impeccable comic timing, he easily has the audience in the palm of his hand. Ross also plays other minor roles and manages to transform completely with each.
Elaine Cotter, as Mary, is another standout performer. She imbues Frankie’s first wife with sass and sensuality, only to break our hearts later with her fragility and longing as things go terribly wrong.
But the most striking aspect of this production, outside of the brilliantly uplifting music and the acting chops of its cast, is the direction. David Arisco has staged the multiple scenes with minimal scenery that moves in and out of the space fluidly and at a dizzying pace.
The television segments are arranged with varying perspectives so that we feel as though we are in the studios ourselves, and the addition of a camera crew and director on stage assists with this conceit. Constantly switching the placement of the performers and supposed audience members adds to the whirlwind sensation of being on a national tour in multiple performance venues throughout the country. It is almost as if we are with the band as they climb their way to the top of the charts.
Arisco has taken care to assure that these characters are not caricatures. We believe in their struggles, we feel their pain, and we rejoice in their successes. While the music is sublime, it is the story that resonates, with characters that are fully fleshed out, fallible, and yet endearing.
Jersey Boys benefits from a capable and talented company of actors who make up the rest of the cast. Tony Lawrence Clements, Carolina Ordonez, Lauren Horgan, Alexander Blanco, Don Seward, Seth Trucks, Corey Vega, and Lauren Maria Abraham all do an admirable job of playing multiple characters.
However, this reviewer wished that the more menacing characters were depicted in a way that provided more dramatic tension and implied truly dangerous circumstances. When he learns that band member DeVito has incurred an enormous debt and that unless it is paid the guitarist’s life is in peril, Valli assumes the liability to protect his friend. This leads to a backbreaking schedule of tours to raise the funds and Valli’s personal life suffers greatly.
As the pressure exerted upon Valli to avoid harm from a nefarious mobster was the impetus for much personal misfortune, it is important that this jeopardy feel real. But this production’s bullies were unable to embody the characteristics that would imply impending perilous outcomes should the band fail to settle the debt, and therefore Valli’s push to earn additional income makes him seem like a common workaholic.
Nevertheless, the audience is on board for the journey and completely invested in Valli’s journey. As he croons to the women in the audience, they squeal and extend their arms to him as though teenagers at a live concert. Throughout the theater one can hear audience members singing along, and at times they jumped to their feet to dance in the aisles. It’s safe to say that everyone in the audience was transported to another time and that they rejoiced in the experience.
Ellis Tillman’s costumes are dazzling, transforming characters within moments and making us feel as though this were a cast of thousands. Brandon M. Newton’s set design is simple but elegant and efficiently transports us back to the period without distracting us from the story. Jodi Dellaventura’s set dressing and properties design support the environment with authenticity and Reidar Sorensen’s sound design is stellar in that sound reinforcement and mixing is perfection itself. Background soundtracks support dramatic moments beautifully and vocals are elegantly balanced. Kudos, too, to Music Director Clay Ostwald for the pitch-perfect harmonies so reminiscent of the original band’s sound.
Will you enjoy this production of Jersey Boys? Undoubtedly! With it’s talented cast, brilliant direction, and uplifting music the show is a gem in South Florida theatres this season.
Jersey Boys from Actors’ Playhouse plays through Sunday, Feb. 23 at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables.
TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices range from $50 to $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling (305) 444-9293, visiting www.ActorsPlayhouse.org, or at the Actors’ Playhouse Box Office (FL 33134). The theatre offers 10 percent off all weekday performances for seniors and $15 student rush tickets to any performance 15 minutes prior to curtain with identification. Group discounted rates are offered for ten patrons or more through the group sales department at (305) 444-9293 ext. 2 or on www.ActorsPlayhouse.org.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., matinees Sundays at 3 p.m. A special weekday matinee will take place on Wednesday, January 29 at 2 p.m.