Created in 2004, Jersey Boys has quickly become a benchmark musical and an audience favourite. It won four Tonys in 2006 including Best Musical, ran for 12 years on Broadway and even had a film adaptation directed by Clint EASTWOOD. Now it’s back in London at the newly renovated Trafalgar Theatre.

The show follows Franki VALLI and the three other members of the Four Seasons, a mythical band from the 60s that broke through in New Jersey with hits like Sherry and Big Girls Don’t Cry. The structure is simple, divided into « seasons »: each character takes the lead in turn and becomes the narrator of a part of the story.

We start with Tommy DeVITO, with the beginnings of the group against a background of mafia shenanigans and love affairs. Songwriter Bob GAUDIO takes over with the explosion and worldwide recognition. Nick MASSI portrays the money problems and debts, and Frankie VALLI ends with his solo career and legacy. The latter is clearly the star of the show and we follow his evolution and private life throughout the different narrations.

The sets are sober, some effects are dated (Yannick‘s song Ces soirées-là to talk about the band’s current influence) and, despite the humour deployed by our protagonists, it is difficult to get totally interested in this lacklustre biography. However, there are still the band’s incredible songs, which are worth booking a seat for, and which follow one another throughout the two hours: Oh what a night, Beggin’ and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You are all performances where time stands still in the room.

A journey through time, Jersey Boys tells us a success story about four men whose songs continue to make people dance, whether it’s their original versions or the remixes they’ve continued to make over the years. The mechanical side disappears every time a tune starts and gives the actors a chance to shine.