Oh What a Night: Jersey Boys Hits All the Right Notes in Nottingham

Written by Katie Barr

Jersey Boys is one of those shows where you think you know exactly what you’re getting. The songs are famous, the story is familiar, and the red logo alone carries a certain promise. But seeing it live at the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham is a reminder that this musical still has plenty of life in it. It is polished, pacey, full of feeling, and, most importantly, sounds absolutely fantastic.

The show tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, but it never feels like a simple greatest hits package. Yes, the music is a huge part of the appeal, and rightly so, but the production is at its best when it lets us see the cracks behind the clean harmonies and sharp suits. These men may have sounded perfectly in sync on stage, but away from the microphone there were debts, arguments, bruised egos and bad decisions waiting in the wings.

Luke Baker is a superb Frankie Valli. That distinctive voice could easily overpower everything else about the character, but Baker does not rely on the falsetto alone. He gives Frankie a softness and sincerity that makes you root for him, even when the world around him becomes increasingly messy. The big numbers are delivered with real confidence, but it is the quieter moments that stop the performance becoming just a vocal showcase.

Carlo Boumouglbay makes Tommy DeVito burst onto the stage with the sort of confidence that instantly tells you trouble is never far behind. He is funny, brash and completely watchable, bringing a dangerous spark to the group dynamic. Toby Miles gives Bob Gaudio a thoughtful, intelligent presence, while Lewis Kennedy’s Nick Massi adds a wonderfully dry edge and a sense of steadiness among the chaos. Together, the four leads make the group believable, not just as performers, but as men tied together by ambition, talent and frustration.

“The vocals across the production are excellent, with harmonies that feel crisp, bright and full of energy.”

The music is, of course, irresistible. Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, Beggin’ and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You all arrive with that lovely little thrill of recognition, and the audience clearly adored them. These are songs that seem to live somewhere in everyone’s memory, whether you grew up with them or simply absorbed them over the years. The vocals across the production are excellent, with harmonies that feel crisp, bright and full of energy.

“…the whole production moves with real purpose.”

Visually, the show looks great. The costumes are stylish without being distracting, the staging is slick, and the whole production moves with real purpose. Nothing lingers too long, and there is always a sense that the next song, argument or revelation is just around the corner. It is smartly put together and very easy to lose yourself in.

My only reservation is the language. It did not spoil the evening for me, but there were moments where it felt heavier than it needed to be. I understand that the show is not trying to present a sanitised version of these men or their world, but I did wonder whether some of it could have been toned down without losing the grit of the story. It is worth mentioning, particularly for anyone going in expecting something gentler because of the familiar soundtrack.

“It is funny, sharp, emotional and packed with songs that still know exactly how to fill a theatre.”

That aside, Jersey Boys is a brilliant night out. It is funny, sharp, emotional and packed with songs that still know exactly how to fill a theatre. By the end, it had that unmistakable buzz of a show that had properly landed. A well-told story, great costumes, brilliant music and vocals to match — Jersey Boys more than earns its standing as a modern musical favourite.

All content is original to The Literary Lounge.

In-article images credited to Mark Senior. No changes were made to these images.

Featured Image credit to Matt Crockett. No changes were made to this image.

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