Jersey Boys at the Regent Theatre, Stoke Review

Jersey Boys
Regent Theatre, Stoke

28 October to 8 November 2014

www.atgtickets.com/regent-theatre

Reviewed by Debbie Tasker

I grew up with my Dad playing the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons LPs and singing along (he actually has quite a good voice thank god!) over and over again. I am very familiar with their music but not as much so with how they came together as a group, so it was fantastic that I had the chance to see Jersey Boys at The Regent Theatre in Stoke last night.

The life and times of the boys is told from teenage years growing up through to tragedies, bankruptcy, changes in line-up and their greatest achievement, a place in The Hall Of Fame.

I loved the storytelling it was very interesting and the evening flew by. The audience was mainly the older generation, as the 60s would have been their era I guess most were reliving their youth – and thoroughly enjoying it from the atmosphere. You don’t have to be a Four Seasons fan to enjoy this terrific show. Just be able to appreciate musical theatre at its best.

Hit after hit are covered superbly. Tim Driesen’s Frankie Valli is outstanding, his vocal range is incredible and he really does sound like Valli himself. The whole cast are brilliant especially those playing the other three seasons whose harmonies are spot on. An amazing job is done by all the actors and musicians and I found myself toe tapping along, I think anybody would find it hard to not get carried away and want to join in singing and dancing.

The scene changes were seamless. Everything works amazingly well. Costumes are true to the era and the camera on stage projecting the actors in black and white onto a screen behind makes you feel you are actually watching the original group at times. Choreography is also faultless and the Four Seasons have the mannerisms and dance moves off to a tee.

Jersey Boys is a feel good show and we had an incredible night. I took my mum along and she was so impressed she rang my Auntie on the way home and said you have to go and see this show!

Oh what a night………

Rating: 5/5 

Tickets cost from £17.90 to £53.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Jersey Boys is at the Regent Theatre in Stoke until 8 November 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7649.

Regent Theatre, Piccadilly, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 1AP | 0844 871 7649