Jersey Boys

[Dr Tom]

Another excellent show last night, the final show for most of the cast.

I did book front row in advance, which was just as well as this sold out (even with late premium seats released on the day).

A very engaged audience, lots of clapping and cheering, but otherwise polite and well behaved. Ben got an extra standing ovation after he sang Can't Take My Eyes Off You to someone in the dress circle.

Ben was remarkably composed throughout. Matteo, in the background, rather less so. Benjamin Yates spoke some very kind words about everyone leaving at the end. Based on that, I'm expecting to see Ben Irish on GBBO soon and Mark Isherwood to not stay retired for too long. You could really tell what a tight knitted group of people this was. Kudos to Carl Douglas as well by closing the show adding some extra riffs to his saxophone playing.

Very glad to have got to see both the first show and final show with this cast and pleased that all the leads were able to perform.

The new crew start on Wednesday.

[Matt]

Jul 26, 2022 10:17:56 GMT Dr Tom said:

Another excellent show last night, the final show for most of the cast.

I did book front row in advance, which was just as well as this sold out (even with late premium seats released on the day).

A very engaged audience, lots of clapping and cheering, but otherwise polite and well behaved. Ben got an extra standing ovation after he sang Can't Take My Eyes Off You to someone in the dress circle.

Ben was remarkably composed throughout. Matteo, in the background, rather less so. Benjamin Yates spoke some very kind words about everyone leaving at the end. Based on that, I'm expecting to see Ben Irish on GBBO soon and Mark Isherwood to not stay retired for too long. You could really tell what a tight knitted group of people this was. Kudos to Carl Douglas as well by closing the show adding some extra riffs to his saxophone playing.

Very glad to have got to see both the first show and final show with this cast and pleased that all the leads were able to perform.

The new crew start on Wednesday.

I was also there front row last night! Totally agree on the crowd, very well behaved but appreciative in the right moments. The whole cast raised the level last night too.

Can’t wait for the new cast tomorrow!

[justafan]

Jul 26, 2022 12:42:31 GMT Matt said:

Jul 26, 2022 10:17:56 GMT Dr Tom said:

Another excellent show last night, the final show for most of the cast.

I did book front row in advance, which was just as well as this sold out (even with late premium seats released on the day).

A very engaged audience, lots of clapping and cheering, but otherwise polite and well behaved. Ben got an extra standing ovation after he sang Can't Take My Eyes Off You to someone in the dress circle.

Ben was remarkably composed throughout. Matteo, in the background, rather less so. Benjamin Yates spoke some very kind words about everyone leaving at the end. Based on that, I'm expecting to see Ben Irish on GBBO soon and Mark Isherwood to not stay retired for too long. You could really tell what a tight knitted group of people this was. Kudos to Carl Douglas as well by closing the show adding some extra riffs to his saxophone playing.

Very glad to have got to see both the first show and final show with this cast and pleased that all the leads were able to perform.

The new crew start on Wednesday.

I was also there front row last night! Totally agree on the crowd, very well behaved but appreciative in the right moments. The whole cast raised the level last night too.

Can’t wait for the new cast tomorrow!

If it wasn’t for the rail strike I’d have been there too. Will you be able to share your thoughts after the show?

[Matt]

Jul 26, 2022 19:34:40 GMT justafan said:

If it wasn’t for the rail strike I’d have been there too. Will you be able to share your thoughts after the show?

It was a great first show! My stand outs are Joey Cornish as Joe Pesci, Joseph Peters as Bob Crewe (HILARIOUS) and Carolyn Maitland as Mary, they looked like they had been doing the role for ages.

I really liked Luke too, but he’s quite the polar opposite to Ben so it will take some getting used to!

[Dr Tom]

Yes, excellent first show from the new cast, one that you really wouldn't think was a first show. I think the cast being generally older and more experienced than the people they replaced helps too.

Luke Suri is excellent as Frankie, with a very expressive face and his voice sounds so much more natural than many who play the role. Joseph Peters was a standout for me as well (not his first time in Jersey Boys, but it is a different role). Great to see 42nd Street favourite Matthew Goodgame on stage again. And excellent to have recent graduates making their debut, including Joey Cornish.

That marks four Frankies in seven days for me, so that it is for while unless any covers are going to make their debut soon. The show definitely has a new lease of life all around with the new cast.

[Matt]

Jul 28, 2022 8:39:06 GMT Dr Tom said:

That marks four Frankies in seven days for me, so that it is for while unless any covers are going to make their debut soon. The show definitely has a new lease of life all around with the new cast.

I would expect that the swings who have stayed on from last year will cover all roles until they've done some cover runs? so maybe for the next 3 or 4 weeks. Does Jack Campbell cover Tommy and Nick? If so, you've got full coverage with Elliot and Andy both covering Frankie and Bob, Huon covering Tommy and Nick, plus Bonnie covering female roles. Just gotta hope theres not 2 off at the same time.

[Dr Tom]

This show attracts some horrible audiences! Lots of 2nd covers on this week, presumably while they rehearse the 1st covers, so have been popping back.

This afternoon, there’s a man front row centre who is conducting, singing, shouting out lines before the cast and clapping/cheering 10 seconds before the end of songs. Not convinced he knows he’s doing it.

Lots of other singers/talkers on the front row, so he’s not alone. I expect they have no idea the cast can hear them. Of course, I’m caught up in the bunch.

Also had two recent occasions of arriving to find people sat in my seats, then acting oblivious. One of them, I was charitable and swapped seats as she was part of a party celebrating a lady making her 100th visit. But what happened to asking first?

On a more positive note, Andy Smith has been on as Bob Gaudio all week and is excellent. Elliot as Frankie and Andy as Bob are a perfect combination.

We’ve also got what I think must be a first time ever Four Seasons combination today, perhaps never to be repeated, with the addition of Jack Campbell as Nick Massi. All held together perfectly by Benjamin Yates as Tommy DeVito, who commands the stage as usual.

Anyway, I strongly recommend catching Andy Smith while he’s on if you possibly can.

[Dr Tom]

Jul 26, 2022 10:17:56 GMT Dr Tom said:

ark Isherwood to not stay retired for too long

Well, his retirement lasted nearly two weeks. Mark is back as Gyp Decarlo tonight! I'm not there, but hope everyone who is enjoys.

[Dr Tom]

After not having planned to see Jersey Boys last week, they suddenly announced Dayle Hodge on in the lead role for the Thursday evening show, so I managed to change my plans around and get a ticket.

Someone else will know better than me, but Dayle isn't officially in the cast. He may well hold the record for being the longest serving Frankie Valli, going from when he first performed the role to what, every time, could be his final performance.

I think I saw him as the tour lead a few years ago, but that was from way back at the rear of the theatre.

Got to say, yes he's older than a typical Frankie, but the emotion he brings to the role is something else. A complete professional and you can see why he is involved with training up so many of the actors who have followed in his footsteps.

They no longer seem to offer Stalls rush through TodayTix, only the Dress Circle. I did manage to get a discounted central Row D seat through another route, but I also arrived to find they were upgrading a lot of people to the front Stalls (my polite request to sit in one of the eight free seats in the front row was denied). Row D is an excellent view, but the downside is you're in the midst of people who aren't always respectful. One person translating the show into French behind me and there were crisp eaters in too. The sound was also rather unbalanced, with Dayle particularly quiet during the first half. I appreciate the cast probably get fed up of seeing the same people in the front row, but I hope they reinstate Stalls rush soon.

Apart from that, they managed to perform the show with only two female cast members, which is always impressive. And they've been running through the third and fourth covers this past week. Who knows what combination of people will be on this week?

[justafan]

Aug 22, 2022 10:01:12 GMT Dr Tom said:

After not having planned to see Jersey Boys last week, they suddenly announced Dayle Hodge on in the lead role for the Thursday evening show, so I managed to change my plans around and get a ticket.

Someone else will know better than me, but Dayle isn't officially in the cast. He may well hold the record for being the longest serving Frankie Valli, going from when he first performed the role to what, every time, could be his final performance.

I think I saw him as the tour lead a few years ago, but that was from way back at the rear of the theatre.

Got to say, yes he's older than a typical Frankie, but the emotion he brings to the role is something else. A complete professional and you can see why he is involved with training up so many of the actors who have followed in his footsteps.

They no longer seem to offer Stalls rush through TodayTix, only the Dress Circle. I did manage to get a discounted central Row D seat through another route, but I also arrived to find they were upgrading a lot of people to the front Stalls (my polite request to sit in one of the eight free seats in the front row was denied). Row D is an excellent view, but the downside is you're in the midst of people who aren't always respectful. One person translating the show into French behind me and there were crisp eaters in too. The sound was also rather unbalanced, with Dayle particularly quiet during the first half. I appreciate the cast probably get fed up of seeing the same people in the front row, but I hope they reinstate Stalls rush soon.

Apart from that, they managed to perform the show with only two female cast members, which is always impressive. And they've been running through the third and fourth covers this past week. Who knows what combination of people will be on this week?

I just did a Today Tix search for tonight’s show and was offered Stalls C12 so Stalls seats are still available on the day. 

[ronnette]

Tonight’s performance at the Newcastle Theatre Royal is cancelled due to extensive I’ll see within the cast.

[Dr Tom]

Some recent visits to report in my attempts to see many of the different covers.

Getting rush tickets in the Stalls remains almost impossible, even bang on at 10am. Some days, they just don't seem to offer any at all. I made the mistake of sitting in the Dress Circle once and just felt so disconnected (the sound quality was arguably better than the Stalls, but the atmosphere and people didn't help).

Luke Suri remains a fantastic Frankie.

I finally saw Andy Smith as Frankie a few weeks ago. He's quite a long way down the cover list now, so I don't know if I'll ever get to see him again. He's a very talented man who can slip into any of his many tracks (it does look a bit odd seeing him as Norm Waxman though).

Yesterday matinee, I managed to see Joey Cornish in only his third Frankie appearance. The odd situation with Elliot on in support as Joe Pesci. I think I'll describe Joey as playing an adorable Frankie. I thought he was slightly hampered with some of the vocal doubling which was louder than his own vocals, but perhaps that was just due to where I was sat at the front. During the songs when he was singing alone, the quality of his voice really came through. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" was divine. Very hope to see Joey as Frankie again.

I'm always impressed by the way they sometimes seem to draw names out of a hat to cover all the tracks. I know it's much more complicated in practice, where some of the cast play instruments live so there's a lot to think about. Still on my wish list is to see Kevin Fullinck as Bob Crewe and Elliot on in any of the female tracks (joke, but I'm sure he'd give it a go).

[inthenose]

Why does this particular show have such an issue with cast/covers? Genuinely curious.

[singularsensation10]

Sept 30, 2022 13:10:21 GMT inthenose said:

Why does this particular show have such an issue with cast/covers? Genuinely curious.

Many past Frankies have left the show with vocal issues due to it being a very specific impression style - the real Frankie Valli had no issues as it was his own voice but to do a Frankie impression 8x a week is understandably difficult, and with them casting graduates I’m glad they’re not getting the boys to push themselves and allowing the Frankies shows off within a week. Also there’s been a terrible cold flying around the West End with previous cast members returning to Heathers and Wicked also so it could be to do with that!

[fiyero]

I think Jersey Boys are more public with their covers, even for minor parts, on West End Understudies on Twitter etc... which may make it seem they are doing it more than other shows maybe?

[Dr Tom]

It's a small cast to start with, but they don't shrimp on the covers. This plays with 9 male and 3 female cast members, then they have 5 male and 1 female covers. Plus they have director Dayle Hodge who sometimes steps in.

I presume the challenge comes when people have scheduled leave and there's illness, or when not all the swings are rehearsed. Also, they try and ever avoid ever having the same person play Frankie twice in a day, I suspect because it is such a demanding role.

They can play with two female actors, but there are obvious sacrifices. They can call previous cast members in if things get desperate, or switch people to/from the touring cast.

Apart from that, yes I'm sure that the fact they are open about who is on makes a massive difference. There are enough shows out there where it's almost impossible to find out who's playing, not even an updated cast board inside the venue.

[inthenose]

Thanks for the replies, wasn’t being rude, I just wondered what the deal was. People in this I’ve known have said it’s a hard show. But I honestly don’t remember Ryan Molloy being off that much. Does the current cast use an alternate?

[Dr Tom]

Sept 30, 2022 15:37:01 GMT inthenose said:

Thanks for the replies, wasn’t being rude, I just wondered what the deal was. People in this I’ve known have said it’s a hard show. But I honestly don’t remember Ryan Molloy being off that much. Does the current cast use an alternate?

Yes, there's an alternate for the Thursday and Saturday matinees, who is also the first cover when the lead is unavailable (but still doesn't do two shows in a day).

Same, I believe, on the tour (with the exception being that the midweek matinee is on a Wednesday).

The current cast is much smaller than the original West End cast (someone else may have numbers) and people are generally playing more roles. That shouldn't make a difference for the person playing the lead though. Maybe Ryan Molloy was just superhuman?

[inthenose]

Sept 30, 2022 16:26:02 GMT Dr Tom said:

Sept 30, 2022 15:37:01 GMT inthenose said:

Thanks for the replies, wasn’t being rude, I just wondered what the deal was. People in this I’ve known have said it’s a hard show. But I honestly don’t remember Ryan Molloy being off that much. Does the current cast use an alternate?

Yes, there's an alternate for the Thursday and Saturday matinees, who is also the first cover when the lead is unavailable (but still doesn't do two shows in a day).

Same, I believe, on the tour (with the exception being that the midweek matinee is on a Wednesday).

The current cast is much smaller than the original West End cast (someone else may have numbers) and people are generally playing more roles. That shouldn't make a difference for the person playing the lead though. Maybe Ryan Molloy was just superhuman?

Bloody talented too, did you get to see him? I’ve seen a handful of Valli’s since (including the man himself) and he was definitive in my eyes.

[Matt]

Dayle Hodge is going on as Bob Crewe tonight!

Elliot would have been Joe Pesci for the matinee as he was doing the evening.

I do get row G and H in the stalls pop up a lot for rush, but I like to sit in the front 3 rows to take photos. I got row D for £45 off TKTS website for the mid week matinee only 2 hours before the other day.

I’ll get round to seeing Joey Cornish at some point, but I’ve hammered JB this year so I need a break 😅.

Honestly they could call me up to cover any part and I’m sure I could do it.

Which cast members play the instruments? I was pretty sure that none of them do.

[cezbear]

Ryan Molloy did have an alternate though, it was Scott Monello. I'm not sure how many shows a week he had though. That was an excellent cast all round, I must book to see the new cast though.

[inthenose]

Sept 30, 2022 17:11:30 GMT cezbear said:

Ryan Molloy did have an alternate though, it was Scott Monello. I'm not sure how many shows a week he had though. That was an excellent cast all round, I must book to see the new cast though.

Scott did Monday nights and Saturday matinees.

[Dr Tom]

Sept 30, 2022 16:48:59 GMT inthenose said:

Bloody talented too, did you get to see him? I’ve seen a handful of Valli’s since (including the man himself) and he was definitive in my eyes.

I did once, but really can't remember that much. I remember him being very good. I have his Frankie album around somewhere too.

Sept 30, 2022 17:06:31 GMT Matt said:

Which cast members play the instruments? I was pretty sure that none of them do.

I think some of the brass section are live. I gave a good idea who and would give names, but now I'm worried I'm going to look completely foolish. But you can see, for example, the swings who still come on to play brass even when they're not covering other roles.

[inthenose]

Sept 30, 2022 17:43:50 GMT Dr Tom said:

Sept 30, 2022 16:48:59 GMT inthenose said:

Bloody talented too, did you get to see him? I’ve seen a handful of Valli’s since (including the man himself) and he was definitive in my eyes.

I did once, but really can't remember that much. I remember him being very good. I have his Frankie album around somewhere too.

Sept 30, 2022 17:06:31 GMT Matt said:

Which cast members play the instruments? I was pretty sure that none of them do.

I think some of the brass section are live. I gave a good idea who and would give names, but now I'm worried I'm going to look completely foolish. But you can see, for example, the swings who still come on to play brass even when they're not covering other roles.

I haven’t seen the show in years I’m afraid. I’ll find out for you.

[Dr Tom]

Yesterday they had what may well have been a first, with swings on for every male part, including two people not in the cast and four male tracks split between three people (two male and one female). I'm sure that would have been a unique show.

I wasn't there then, but I did go to the Saturday matinee and managed to get an excellent front row seat. They were running low on people then, with all the available swings on (no sign of Andy Smith anywhere, they skipped the usual saxophone player in the background). Two cover band members on as well, or at least people I didn't recognise as regulars.

Joey Cornish was on as Frankie and has really come into his own. They've sorted the sound balance issues which I found irritating last time I saw him (or I was just sat in a better seat). Matthew Goodgame was on as Nick Massi. He is always excellent and a total professional.

Otherwise, I can't single out all of the covers, but very pleased to have now seen Danny Knott go on twice in different roles. This time, he was on as Bob Crewe. Let's just say, that role suits him perfectly.

Very pleased I wasn't the only person giving a standing ovation this time too, unlike a previous visit.

Hopefully everyone recovers quickly from whatever is keeping them away from the show, but will be interested to see who is on later in the week (no show on a Tuesday evening).