(AD – PRESS NIGHT) JERSEY BOYS HULL REVIEW
HULL NEW THEATRE
WEDNESDAY 18TH MAY @ 7.30PM
**** 4/5
Even though I only saw Jersey Boys less than a month ago, the tour makes a stop in Hull for the next two weeks so I had to attend. It’s one of my favourite shows, possibly my favourite jukebox musical, so I wasn’t going to miss it. Let’s take a look at my Jersey Boys Hull review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
As I said above, I adore this show. The current West End production is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and I know the tour is meant to be just as good. This will be the third time I’ve seen the show, having also seen it on its previous visit to Hull in 2018 (I think). I also switched it up with my guest this time and took my dad. He’s a big fan of Frankie Valli/The Four Seasons and enjoyed the show last time it toured here!
THE CAST
Once again, the cast is the real highlight with the Four Seasons taking the spotlight. Michael Pickering’s Frankie Valli had such warmth to his character. His falsetto was note-perfect as was his lower range. His microphone could have been turned up slightly to hear his voice clearer!
Blair Gibson as Bob Gaudio is a standout. As I always say, he’s the most talented character anyway and Gibson has that perfect mix of boyish charm and serious talent. His vocals were beautiful and I thought he was perfect for the character!
Dalton Wood as Tommy DeVito was also strong. Despite DeVito being a bit of a twat (for want of a better word), it’s impossible to hate Wood’s interpretation of him. Whilst he might be a stereotypical ‘Jersey’ man, Wood’s talent shines throughout.
The most underrated of the quartet is Lewis Griffiths as Nick Massi. Whilst he is definitely quiet throughout the first act, he shines in the spotlight when it’s his turn. He has the best one-liners, the best running joke throughout and the best closing line of all the group. Griffiths has been with the show for years too so you know it must be a fun part to play!
Closing with the ensemble, they are spectacular. Each play multiple parts throughout and never misses a beat or note. It’s not the biggest ensemble either and they really fill the stage.
THE PRODUCTION
The music shines through in Jersey Boys and the fact that it’s still running after its debut in 2004 speaks to how much of a legacy the Four Seasons have. The band is exceptional with snippets of many songs before longer numbers towards the end.
Just one small issue I had was the lighting and sound. The microphones were switched a little too low for me, especially for the four leading men. The lighting was also a little haphazard and the spotlights on each member should’ve been brighter. It could be because it’s only the second show of its stop in Hull though but hopefully, it will get fixed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t think I will ever get bored of seeing Jersey Boys on any stage anywhere. I’m always impressed by each actor’s interpretation of the Four Seasons as they do differ slightly every time. My absolute favourite scene is when the group, along with Norm and Gyp, are trying to sort out DeVito’s debt. It’s very dramatic but equally funny.
The audience was a little flat (and half empty) but did come alive at the end. However, I’ve seen a few complaints about singing in the audience. It might be a good idea to add that to the voiceover before the show starts! All in all, Jersey Boys is a fun night out with great music and phenomenal singing. You might even learn a thing or two about the Four Seasons! It’s quite a gritty story so it doesn’t gloss over anything. This show is perfect for all ages but does contain a lot of swearing. Just something to note before taking children!
Jersey Boys is in Hull until 28th May before continuing on its UK tour until March 2023 (dates can be found here). You can always compare this review to my West End review from last month but I try not to myself! If you enjoyed my Jersey Boys Hull review, you can catch up on all my stagey adventures by following me on Twitter and Instagram.
