“Jersey Boys” tells the story of the Four Seasons through their hits

Millburn’s award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse has come up with a fall musical that interweaves the rags-to-riches story of the Four Seasons with over 30 of the songs they made famous. It’s Jersey Boys, and it’s a fast-paced, lively show just made for an autumn evening’s entertainment!

The story, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Ellice, follows three teens — delinquent Tommy DeVito (Jake Bentley Young), stolid Nick Massi (Robert Lenzi), and angel-voiced Frankie Castelluccio / Frankie Valli (Daniel Quadrino) — as they go from street-corner singers to a pop quartet with Tommy’s brother Nick. When Nick is sent to prison, the other three continue as a trio until they meet brilliant young composer Bob Gaudio (Ben Diamond), with the quartet taking the name “The Four Seasons.” 

The group skyrockets to fame as recording and touring artists. Although they split all their profits four ways, Frankie and Bob form a side partnership, splitting whatever they make from non-Four Seasons work 50/50. Tommy’s enormous gambling debts effectively bankrupt the group. Even after being helped out by a mob boss who befriended them in their early days, Tommy continues to run up more debts until the group finally splits apart. Frankie and Bob pledge to repay all of Tommy’s debts and go on seemingly endless tours, both with a “new” Four Seasons and with Frankie on his own.

The cast, directed by Michael Bello, turn in fine performances as well as delivering the sound and feel of the Four Seasons. Aside from the actors playing the Four Seasons, the rest of the actors make strong impressions in multiple roles. Amber Ardolino appears as both Frankie’s wife, Mary Delgado, and their daughter Angel. Holli’ Conway plays Lorraine, a reporter who enters into a relationship with Frankie; Jeremy Gaston is producer-lyricist-musician Bob Crewe; Nick Duckart is sentimental mob boss Gyp DeCarlo; Nathan Lucrezio is world-weary bag man Norm Waxman; Jarran Muse plays producer Barry Belson; Tyler Okunski portrays Nick DeVito, Tommy’s jailbird brother; and Reagan Pender makes a hilarious, schlubby Joe Pesci.

The choreography of Kyli Rae captures the tight moves of touring singing groups of the era, while Julie Thiry-Couvillion’s costumes mark the passage of time, especially for the women. The scenic design of Kelly James Tighe incorporates a stage-spanning multi-level work of catwalks, platforms, and staircases. Paige Seber’s lighting includes a malfunctioning neon sign that gives inspiration to the fledgling singers as they search for a new group name. Geoffrey Ko leads an 11-piece onstage orchestra which provides clean but not overpowering accompaniment to the huge song list, which includes such favorites as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night), “My Eyes Adored You,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Rag Doll,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Who Loves You,” and the novelty song “Short Shorts.”

At the performance I attended, there was one small but jarring note. On occasion, while a character was speaking, the microphone would cut out, only to return a few seconds later. If this happened once, it wouldn’t be worth mentioning, but it happened multiple times. I hope this minor problem was addressed in subsequent performances.

Jersey Boys is a sparkly nostalgia trip for those of us who lived through the rise and fall and rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It’s a sharp, solid show, and while the book may at times be formulaic, most of the story is true-to-life in a Rashomon way. Jersey Boys is not a show for deep contemplation of the price of fame. It is entertainment, pure and simple, and a great show for an autumn evening.

If that’s what you crave, I suggest you head down to Millburn and catch Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Jersey Boys!

Jersey Boys is presented by the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn through Nov. 3, 2024. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to papermill.org or call 973-376-4343. An interview with the show’s Nathan Lucrezio can be found here.