Jersey Boys officially opened in Sydney on Saturday at Theatre Royal. Check out a sneak peek of John Shand’s rave review in the Sydney Morning Herald:
“This is easily the best jukebox musical ever. Yes, best in a dismal field, but immediately setting it apart is a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice that fizzes with snappy dialogue and bullying one-liners. It creates credible characters for not only the four leads but also a supporting cast led by Daniel Scott’s Bob Crewe (the band’s shrewd, amusing lyricist/producer) and Lisa Adam as Valli’s wife, Mary, whose sharp tongue cannot prevent a slide into disillusionment.
The show is defined by its singing. Fox’s remarkably Valli-like falsetto creates truly thrilling moments in the harmonies (Rag Doll being a notable example), and the many Gaudio/Crewe-penned hits such as Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like a Man explode from the stage with verve, polish and conviction.”