Jersey Boys

by Ed Bruce edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

Another four star show for the Las Vegas strip ! Jersey Boys it is opening along with the new Palazzo Hotel Casino in the middle of the strip ! First class in every way !

If you have been on Neptune and are unaware....this is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons ! The production is running at different venues around the country....this one in a specially built theatre for what they hope will be a long run....it should be !

First of all Frankie Valli and his music are quite familiar to us in Las Vegas, he has played a number of venues, some recently and over a long period. Frankie Valli has been the top vocal for the group, the seasons changed thru the years altho they all have been good. The original seasons like the Beattles ran a short decade...this is their story. Here is a great body of music and it has always been well done.....Frankie celebrated his 71st birthday here on opening night.

Jersey Boys is not a concert (which I thought I would prefer).....it is the story of the four seasons, how they made their music, how they lived their lives and the usual historical ups and downs in their careers. This is world class theatre in every way, fabulous talent, perfect production, great theatre lighting and sets with the cast playing many roles in flawless continuity (the intermission the exception).

I like a good storyline and I was happy with this one, even better a true story. I am into composers...... and I learned that Bob Gaudio wrote damn near all this music, what a career, what a genius....and pretty much like Lennon and McCartney.....simple lyrics......Rag Doll, Dawn, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man, Sherry, Oh What a Night.....What a Night this was ! Frankie Valli said, "all the great music has been written" he sure as hell was right about that, I don't know when he said it but after his run of music here thru the 60's he was right on. Name a great piece of music in the last 35 years ?

The show is must see....no words can describe here the emotions the show gathers.....if you miss it you lose, hopefully you will have many years of opportunites to se this. Our family always did Forever Plaid on our New Years eve celebration.....now it will be Jersey Boys.

Negatives .....the damn thing started 8 minutes late and has an 8 minute intermission....there goes 16 minutes out of the heart of my life. The exits are non existent....took for ever to get to the slot machines....who desinged this maize ?

They lose 8 points for being 8 minutes late so its 92 A-.....late never tolerated ! ! !