Bye Bye Baby at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls Review
Bye Bye Baby
Fairfield Halls, Croydon
4 June 2015
Reviewed by Emma Rogers
Bye Bye Baby is the production of the Jersey Boys, telling the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The production, in the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon’s Fairfield Halls, is less like a musical and more of a sing-a-long with favourite songs (Bye Bye Baby, Walk Like a Man, Oh What A Night) as well as songs written by the band members and less known (Stay) and songs for other artists like Frank Sinatra and Diana Ross.
The company includes a live band, with a backing horn section, drums, piano and guitar. On stage, four singers represent each of the four members of the band, with the members telling the story of how the band was formed, how each of them faired on the tour scene and wrote the songs, and what happened to them in later years. The real Four Seasons were induced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, which was the last time the original cast were all on stage together. The band toured for several years afterwards, but it is only Frankie Valli who is still alive and at 81 is still touring. The songs are reminiscent of the 1950s and 60s with some humour thrown in during the narration.
The show runs to 2 hours with intermission, and it’s during the second half that people were up and dancing, leaning on the stage and clapping along. It’s a good show for the grandmas and granddad’s to go for an evening out and a light hearted look at the last 50 years of harmonies music.
Rating: 3.5/5
For other shows at Croydon’s Fairfield Halls visit www.fairfield.co.uk.
Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 1DG | 020 8688 9291
