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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 25, 2021 13:46:32 GMT
I caught the first night of the UK tour last night in Wimbledon. A great seat at the end of the front row in a very full theatre.
Let's face it. The show has toured for years and is like a well-oiled machine. Almost everything last night was very polished. There were a couple of minor microphone issues and line flubs and some backstage bangs, but nothing really noticeable. The single biggest problem was someone in the second row whose seat was faulty, then a whole parade of people trying to fix it during an extended interval (before he was eventually moved to another seat).
I also saw the first night of the current West End production and I enjoyed the tour version so much more. Essentially it's the same production, but the sound quality in Wimbledon is so much better and the sound edits less obvious. I was sat close to a speaker too, which was helpful for drowning out the woman singing behind me.
I really liked Michael Pickering, who is playing Frankie Valli, but all the cast were excellent (especially those moving seamlessly between multiple roles with a range of different wigs to content with). Lewis Griffiths, who has been Nick Massi now for many years (possibly longer than the real Nick Massi ever toured for) was excellent too. Blair Gibson is a great Bob Gaudio, having previously played the role on the cruise ship version. Then there's Dalton Wood as Tommy Devito, who really has to hold the show together from the first moment on stage. Then there was George Salmon, making his professional debut as Joe Pesci, who made sure he got every swear word out there to maximum effect.
A thoroughly deserved standing ovation at the end for the whole cast. I'm not in a rush to see the West End production again (although hopefully they have sorted the sound quality by now), but I would certainly go back to see the touring cast.
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Nov 25, 2021 19:18:30 GMT
Cannot disagree with anything you say about Jersey Boys. Not in any way inferior to the West End production and should do well on tour. I was in seat BB2 last night. I could see the problems with that broken seat and it looked like it was delaying act 2. I told the usher that there were two empty seats by me and the two people affected moved there. I like the end seats at Wimbledon , not a limited view at all but usually a lot cheaper (£25.50 last night) than the centre.
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Post by Jon on Nov 25, 2021 19:27:59 GMT
It's a rare thing for the tour to be better than the London production. I am surprised they opened it in Wimbledon considering it's proximity to Central London.
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Post by danielwhit on Nov 25, 2021 21:20:47 GMT
Is the tour the original staging that has previously toured or the "squashed" staging that we currently have at Trafalgar?
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 26, 2021 11:06:20 GMT
Is the tour the original staging that has previously toured or the "squashed" staging that we currently have at Trafalgar? I think it's the same set that previously toured. It certainly filled the stage at Wimbledon. |
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Post by david on Jan 27, 2022 20:44:44 GMT
Oh what a night it was last night at the Liverpool Empire. A great opening night with a fantastic cast singing those great Four Seasons songs. Having booked a cheap ticket (£23.50) for a restricted side stalls seat last week, a quick look at the seating plan on my way to the theatre came up with a centre front stalls seat for the same price, so after a quick ticket exchange at the Box Office, I took my seat ready for a great night out. Unfortunately, half way through Act 1 a very drunk couple decided to cause a disturbance and ended up with the guy getting kicked out by security leaving his drunk female companion to complain to the rest of us on how much she had spent on the tickets (over £100 she said) and how it had ruined her night. Thankfully we managed to watch Act 2 in peace.
So, after the off-stage drama, what of the on-stage performance? A brilliant cast of four guys as the Four Seasons. This show might have been doing the rounds for a few years now, but I've got no complaints about this current cast and this production was just as great as previous productions I've seen. Michael Pickering was great as Frankie Valli and "I Can't Take My Eyes Off You" sounded as great as any version I've heard either in the WE or on tour. The other 3 guys again I would say were just good as previously seen casts.
With a fantastic ensemble playing multiple roles and a 5 piece orchestra bringing those classic songs to life along with the vocal talents of the cast, a well-earned standing ovation at the end.
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Post by peggysue on Mar 24, 2022 17:32:19 GMT
Finally made my return back to the theatre after 2 years with a visit to see Jersey Boys at the Sunderland Empire. We went to see the matinee and saw the alternate Frankie Valli, played by Luke Suri who is making his theatre debut with the show. I was very impressed with his performance, Frankie hardly leaves the stage in the second half and his energy level stayed high throughout. The whole cast were impressive and put so much energy into the performance, it's impossible not to leave with a smile on your face and wanting to return! The theatre appeared almost full, the audience were very well behaved and very enthusiastic with a standing ovation at the end. I've seen this show quite a few times in the West End and each time it has toured. It's in great shape and a brilliant one to start my theatre going habit again  |
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 25, 2022 12:09:01 GMT
It's a long one! Just announced for the Sheffield Lyceum in early 2023.
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Post by justfran on Mar 31, 2022 19:27:08 GMT
Oh what a night! I recently caught this in Sunderland - so pleased to see it's still a sharp and slick show. Such a great catalogue of hits, there's not a weak song in it. Particular highlights were Walk Like a Man (which received a very enthusiastic extended applause), Dawn, Beggin' and of course; December 1963. Surprised to see it is returning to the north east so soon and appearing in Newcastle at the end of August. Like peggysue I also saw Luke Suri as Frankie Valli. He was fab and definitely one of the best Frankies I have seen. This got me thinking who would make a dream Jersey Boys cast from previous performers. I'm still thinking it over, but Luke is definitely a contender for Frankie and I'd say Simon Bailey is my favourite Tommy. What do others think? |
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Post by peggysue on Apr 14, 2022 10:16:23 GMT
This is my dream Jersey Boys cast:
Tim Driesen - Frankie Valli
Stephen Ashfield - Bob Gaudio
Simon Bailey - Tommy DeVito
Lewis Griffiths - Nick Massi
Wayne Smith - Bob Crewe
It was really difficult to choose as I’ve seen some great performances since it started
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 23, 2023 14:59:56 GMT
Regrettably, I was unable to accompany Mater yesterday, as her essential carer. I'm not sure she was too bothered, though, as when I went to collect her after the matinee, she had a nice, young man on one arm, and an usher on the other. When the time came to hand her over, they both gave her a snog!
The official verdict: "He was very good, 'im playing the lead."
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