By Suzanne Tate
The Palais Theatre in St Kilda was filled with excitement and energy on Friday night for the one-night-only performance of Jersey Forever. The show featured the four original cast members from the Australian cast of Jersey Boys; Bobby Fox, who originally played Frankie Valli, Scott Johnson, who was Tommy DeVito, Stephen Mahy, who played Bob Gaudio, and Glaston Toft, who was cast as Nick Massi. Although it was 17 years since they first performed together, the group gelled perfectly, recapturing their on-stage chemistry and camaraderie. The show highlighted classic Four Seasons songs, like ‘Sherry’, ‘Walk Like a Man’, Big Girls Don’t Cry’ and Frankie Valli’s solo hit, ‘My Eyes Adored You’. The format also allowed flexibility to include somewhat related songs like ‘Uptown Girl’ by the fellow ‘Jersey Boy’ Billy Joel, ‘Grease’, which was written by the Bee Gees, but performed by Frankie Valli for the movie’s opening credits, and ‘More than a Woman’, a Bee Gees hit that was ideally suited to the Frankie Valli falsetto sound.
The group was supported by an eight-piece big band, with musical direction and arrangements by Jack Earle. This created a rich, layered sound, although there were some occasional balance issues. The colourful lighting, designed by Jason Bovaird, enhanced the clean yet dramatic visual aesthetic, which was also created by the simple yet effective costumes, such as the iconic red jackets. The audience were warmed up with an explosive performance as Tina Turner by Ruva, supported by dancers Mikhaela Schreuder and Emily Lodge.
Interspersed between the fantastic music were stories about the guys’ time in Jersey Boys, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and fond memories. This really enhanced the performance, creating a connection between the performers and the audience. The concert style also allowed each performer to take the limelight for a few songs. It was a particular treat to hear Glaston Toft, who was relegated to the baritone “boms” throughout the original performances of Jersey Boys, sing a couple of fantastic solos that showcased his range, but every song was a delight to listen to, and the signature Four Seasons choreography was a joy to watch.
A particularly memorable moment was the a cappella version of ‘Earth Angel’, sung as the first encore. It took the audience longer than it should have to understand that they needed to be quiet to hear, but once the penny dropped, it was magical.
It was wonderful to witness this special performance – I hope that it may return one day for a longer run so more people can experience this time-travelling masterpiece.
