The Mac Weekly

Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: The Arts

For the past three days, one word has been forever recurrent in my mind: Sherry.

Silly girl, you say. But don't try to kid yourself. You wouldn't be able to shield yourself against the angelic, high-toned voices always echoing in your head. You aren't stronger than this tour-de-force. You got nothin' on the boys from Jersey. Nada.

I won't kid myself, either. You probably don't know a whole lot about the Four Seasons. I want to introduce you to the four guys I met the other night. There's Frankie- he's got the voice of an angel and the stars in his eyes. There's Tommy- he's the bad boy. That's all you need know. There's Bobby- he's the genius of the group, a real wiz with words. And there's Nick- he's the base (and bass) of the group; the rock that tries to keep them all grounded. They're the Four Seasons, and they let me in on a few of their secrets.

I'm sure you've heard the name Frankie Valli mentioned by a grandma, a dad, a family friend, or maybe you've even danced to one of his tunes at a wedding. But I guarantee you - the Four Seasons are more cemented in our youthful minds than we may know. Can you remember a cocky, love-struck Heath Ledger in Ten Things I Hate about You ? He sung that unforgettable ballad to Julia Stiles' character while the marching band played in the background. The song? Can't Take My Eyes Off You. Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) knew his Frankie Valli hits all right.

I walked into "Jersey Boys" not knowing quite what to expect. I assumed it might be a musical with an outlandish plot stung together by hits from a foursome I didn't know anything about. My thoughts at the time? Two words: "Mamma Mia." I would not have been amused. Yet, surprisingly and wonderfully, that was not the case.

"Jersey Boys" is not about the songs the Four Seasons sang, it's about their experience. However, the Four Seasons make their experiences yours, too. You live with them, love with them, lose your virginity with them, make hits with them, suffer with them, and before you know it - you feel like one of them.

The rebel of the gang, Tommy, leads you on the Four Seasons' journey from the beginning when Frankie was just another 16 year old kid from New Jersey hanging outside of clubs, hoping to sing along. Immediately, you're whisked off into their world as the sets change lightning-fast with tables on moving tracks and actors deftly placing chairs. Despite the immense amount of set-changing, it remains unobtrusive and almost natural as audiences go from clubs to streets to homes. It's easy to get caught in the Jersey whirlwind as Tommy gives you his insider's scoop on the gang. He talks to you, lets you know what's up and who's who. He tells you about the group's identity crisis - how they changed names weekly and became the "Romans," the "Lovers," and "The Wonder Who?". He even lets you in on a little secret: Joe Pesci, yeah that Joe Pesci - the actor - introduced Bobby to the rest of the Four Seasons. You tag along with the gang as they go from four boys in Jersey making deals with the local gangster boss to four musicians pleading for a record deal. In the end, there's hardly any suspense in wondering whether or not a label will accept them - but you're nearly falling off the edge of your seat with nerves as they get signed.

Continued...

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