By Rikki Lee Travolta
The Four Seasons are a true American success story.
In the 1950’s there weren’t a lot of choices for working-class boys from New Jersey. Options included the army, the mob, and blue-collar doldrums. Tommy DeVitto was wracking up a respectable list of criminal convictions when he came up with another option for escaping the New Jersey workforce.
DeVitto’s dream was to use music to escape the city and graduate to greener pastures. His ticket was an angel-voiced neighborhood kid Frances Castelluccio who would become professionally known as Frankie Valli. Together with Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio, they formed one of the nation’s most popular and most respected singing groups of the 1960s and beyond.
In 2005, a musical dramatizing the life of The Four Seasons premiered on Broadway. While some biographical musicals struggle, “Jersey Boys” hit on all cylinders. The Broadway company scored eight Tony nominations, winning Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor. It has inspired multiple touring companies and a feature film adaptation.
Now, for the first time, the show is being produced in Chicago with a Chicago cast. Housed at the Mercury Theater under the direction of L. Walter Stearns and Brenda Didier, “Jersey Boys” is the kind of spectacular that makes your skin tingle, your heart pound, and your spirits soar. Mercury Theater’s “Jersey Boys” is musical theatre ecstasy.
Frankie Valli had 29 Top 40 hits with The Four Seasons and nine Top 40 charting songs as a solo artist. Valli’s distinctive falsetto voice forever immortalized such songs as “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “December 1963” (“Oh What a Night”).
The success of “Jersey Boys” hinges on having a true star in the role of Frankie Valli. I have long advocated that Michael Metcalf is one of Chicago’s most gifted and hardworking up-and-coming musical theater talents. As Mercury’s Frankie Valli, Metcalf proves he belongs in the city’s biggest spotlight. He is that talented, and shows it in spades.
Metcalf has an amazing falsetto, every bit as pristine and crystal clear as Valli in his heyday. He is also an incredible actor, taking us from Valli’s teen years to the group’s induction into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Metcalf earned a Heartstrings Award in 2023 for his performance in Mercury Theater’s “Rock of Ages”. This year and this performance could see the young star net his first Jeff Award. If Chicagoans weren’t aware of Metcalf before, this performance should put him on the map.
To be clear, “Jersey Boys” is not a Frankie Valli solo biography, it is the story of the four members of the group. The story is told in four parts, with each member of The Four Seasons taking a turn interacting with the audience as the narrator of their portion of the story.
Stearns and Didier are two of Chicago’s best directing talents. Working together on this project, they create the ultimate stage for the performers to shine.
First out of the gate to address the audience is Tommy DeVitto. Tommy is a big talker with big ideas. He may not be the most talented guy in the group musically, but he’s got the willpower, gumption, and grit to create a path to stardom.
Adrian Aguilar seems born to play the role of Tommy DeVitto. He exudes a street-smart charisma that would make any Jersey boy proud. He is the perfect complement to Metcalf’s youthful exuberance. It is a spectacular performance. I believed him every second he was on stage.
Jason Michael Evans is no stranger to the role of Nick Massi. Evans gives a performance that demonstrates an ultimate mastery of the character. In addition to great singing and dancing chops, he delivers some of the funniest lines of the show.
Andrew MacNaughton rounds out the singing group as Bob Gaudio, their chief songwriter. From his first appearance, MacNaughton amazes with a stunning voice. He starts off fabulously and then continues to get better from there.
Although it includes over 30 songs, the show is far more than just a tribute concert. It has a compelling story of highs and lows for the musical group. They are, after all, human and “Jersey Boys” is as much about the human experience as it is about the music.
One area where all four stars excel is in showing the development of the group. They start off as teens looking for a way out and graduate to worldwide headliners wowing audiences with precision choreography and stunning harmonies. It is a journey that will delight any audience.
The entire cast of “Jersey Boys” is pretty darn incredible. The small ensemble plays dozens of roles, and always with aplomb. Grant Alexander Brown is a standout as a young Joe Pesci – yes, the Oscar-winning actor played a role in the formation of The Four Seasons long before he ever found fame on the silver screen. Eric A. Lewis is also excellent as local mobster Gyp DeCarlo.
The top-notch ensemble includes Adam Fine (Bob Crew), Dan Gold (Nick DeVito), Eric A. Lewis (Barry Belson), Maya McQueen (Francine), Jason Richards (Norm Waxman), Haley Jane Schafer (Lorraine), and Kayla Shipman (Mary Delgado). Understudies include Grant Alexander Brown, Hannah Efsits, Casey Huls, Peyton Knowski, and Isaac Ray.
Music directors for this monumental theatrical achievement are Eugene Dizon and Linda Madonia. They do their job to perfection. Choreographer Christopher Chase Carter does an exceptional job creating movements that evoke the spirit of The Four Seasons in a format that complements the talents of these particular performers – absolutely mesmerizing.
Costume design by Rachel Boylan is impressive; everyone looks their part and looks appropriately sharp. Kevin Barthel adds to the mirage with wig design.
On the technical side, Bob Knuth can be complimented on a utility set that suits all purposes of the storytelling. Lighting designer Denise Karzcewski, sound designer Stefanie M. Senior, media designer G. “Max” Maxin IV, violence/intimacy director Alison Dornheggen, and properties designer Lonnae Hickman do an excellent job with their respective responsibilities.
Dialect coach Kathy Logelin has all the actors sounding spot-on perfect. Stage manager is Daniel J. Janson, assisted by Rachel Campbell. Production manager is Johnnie Schleyer. Stearns and Dizon are the company’s executive producers, Carter is Mercury’s artistic director, and Kristi J. Martens is the theater’s managing director.
“Jersey Boys”, as presented by Mercury Theatre, is magnificent. It features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe. Don’t wait to get tickets to this musical theater homage to doo wop’s best.
“Jersey Boys” will ignite a spark in you that will fill you with elation – something Mercury Theater does on a regular basis. The company is truly one of Chicago’s theatrical treasures.
“Jersey Boys” is slated to run through May 19, 2024. Mercury Theater is located at 3745 N. Southport Avenue in Chicago. For tickets visit www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com or call (773) 360-7365l
Photo credit: Liz Lauren
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