OH WHAT A NIGHT! JERSEY BOYS ROCKS ACT OF CT
By Kiersten Bjork (October 19, 2024)
Jersey Boys, currently playing at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut (ACT of CT) in Ridgefield, is a high-energy show that will have you singing along and dancing in your seat from the opening chords. With a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe, Jersey Boys is packed with the iconic songs of the Four Seasons that you know and love, from “Walk Like a Man” and “Sherry” to “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”
Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, from the forming of the group to the trials and triumphs that they faced over their careers. Along the winding road of their successes, the group faces everything from mobsters and marital conflicts to jail time, and yet amidst the struggles, the audience gets to experience a group of musicians creating something magical together. Told from the perspectives of Tommy DeVito, Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, and Nick Massi, the audience gets a peek behind the curtain at the lives of these incredible musicians, from the very beginning to the present day.
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT is directed by Christopher D. Betts, with choreography by Emily Franch. The direction and choreography are dynamic and exciting. It’s always fun to see that iconic Four Seasons style up on stage, and Franch’s choreography blends everything together quite well. The direction captures the story of the show well, though there were a few times it felt like the “Jersey” portrayals were borderline caricatures of the stereotype. On the whole, a knock-out production. Mason Frasher serves as music director for the production, with Bryan Perri as music supervisor.
Jersey Boys, currently playing at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut (ACT of CT) in Ridgefield, is a high-energy show that will have you singing along and dancing in your seat from the opening chords. With a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe, Jersey Boys is packed with the iconic songs of the Four Seasons that you know and love, from “Walk Like a Man” and “Sherry” to “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”
Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, from the forming of the group to the trials and triumphs that they faced over their careers. Along the winding road of their successes, the group faces everything from mobsters and marital conflicts to jail time, and yet amidst the struggles, the audience gets to experience a group of musicians creating something magical together. Told from the perspectives of Tommy DeVito, Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, and Nick Massi, the audience gets a peek behind the curtain at the lives of these incredible musicians, from the very beginning to the present day.
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT is directed by Christopher D. Betts, with choreography by Emily Franch. The direction and choreography are dynamic and exciting. It’s always fun to see that iconic Four Seasons style up on stage, and Franch’s choreography blends everything together quite well. The direction captures the story of the show well, though there were a few times it felt like the “Jersey” portrayals were borderline caricatures of the stereotype. On the whole, a knock-out production. Mason Frasher serves as music director for the production, with Bryan Perri as music supervisor.
Christian Engelhardt, Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo, Matthew Stoke, and Anthony Cangiamila in
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT (ACT of CT) |
Anthony Cangiamila, Matthew Stoke, Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo, and Christian Engelhardt in
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT (ACT of CT) |
The original Four Seasons themselves are played by Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo (Frankie Valli), Matthew Stoke (Tommy DeVito), Christian Engelhardt (Bob Gaudio), and Anthony Cangiamila (Nick Massi).
This is the fourth production of Jersey Boys that I’ve seen in the past year or so, and I think that DiCostanzo is my favorite Frankie that I’ve seen so far. He captures the youthfulness of Frankie in the early scenes, and then fully lives out the arc of the character over the course of the show, topping it all off with a pitch-perfect voice and strong acting chops. Monologues have never been my favorite, but DiCostanzo’s delivery of Frankie’s monologue at the end of the show about “chasing the music” is brilliant and has the audience hanging on his every word.
Stoke has DeVito down, from the accent to the attitude. He’s confident, he’s smooth, he’s got an edgy charm, and he has a great voice. Stoke has a keen sense of DeVito’s role as that older brother yet borderline bully in many of the surrounding characters’ lives, and he portrays that well. He carries us through the story with all of the bluster and bravado that makes DeVito such a fun role to play, and to watch.
Engelhardt is a wonderful Gaudio from the moment he is introduced as the potential final member of the original Four Seasons. He has a boyishness about him that works well for Gaudio, particularly leading into his humorous rendition of “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)” toward the end of the first act. A strong voice and great chemistry with the other group members, particularly DiCostanzo, creates a full portrayal of Gaudio that the audience clearly enjoys.
Cangiamila is enjoyable as the proclaimed “Ringo Starr” of the Four Seasons. Massi has some quirks that, recurring throughout the show, allow Cangiamila to draw them out for some good laughs. His delivery of the Tommy monologue at Gyp’s meeting is spot-on and has the audience in stitches. Cangiamila holds down the bass notes with ease, rounding out the sound of the group.
Justin Michael Duval plays music producer Bob Crewe (and others). Duval has fantastic energy right from the start, and his portrayal of Crewe is quite funny. He plays up the eccentricities of Crewe, hitting all the right notes to craft a quirky character that has the audience laughing more times than not.
Mobster Gyp DeCarlo (and others) is portrayed by Ryan Williams. Williams has just the right presence to give the mobster a balance of menace and suavity, with an additional touch of humor. Like most of the cast, Williams plays a number of other characters as well, transitioning seamlessly from serious to hilarious and back again with each scene change.
Frankie’s first wife, Mary Delgado (and others), is played by Amanda Pinto. She’s fierce, she’s powerful, and yet she still brings a softness to the character when necessary. Pinto is really wonderful as Delgado, as well as in the many other roles she takes on over the course of the show. I particularly enjoyed her duet with DiCostanzo on “My Eyes Adored You.”
Abigail McLendon plays Frankie and Mary’s daughter, Francine (and others). She captures the volatile youth of Francine well, while also keeping that girlish charm. McLendon also gets a chance to show off as the lead singer of the girl group, The Angels, in the song “My Boyfriend’s Back.”
Journalist Lorraine (and others), another of Frankie’s love interests, is beautifully embodied by Aerie Williams. She has a strength, yet a sweetness to her, shown in the support of Frankie, and yet in the decision to ultimately leave him. Williams also does an excellent job in the range of ensemble characters she covers.
Matthew Boyd Snyder is an absolute riot as Joe Pesci – yes, that Joe Pesci, the actor – and others. Every line is delivered with a humorous energy, his vocal choices backed up by great physical ones, scampering about the stage as he attempts to weasel his way into the politics of the group. Snyder really nails it as Pesci and is incredibly fun to watch.
Rounding out the company is Gus Stuckey as Barry Belson (and others). Stuckey plays everyone from the disc jockey to a bouncer, dancing and singing his way through a slew of ensemble roles. He gives an all-around strong performance, and shines in this track.
This is the fourth production of Jersey Boys that I’ve seen in the past year or so, and I think that DiCostanzo is my favorite Frankie that I’ve seen so far. He captures the youthfulness of Frankie in the early scenes, and then fully lives out the arc of the character over the course of the show, topping it all off with a pitch-perfect voice and strong acting chops. Monologues have never been my favorite, but DiCostanzo’s delivery of Frankie’s monologue at the end of the show about “chasing the music” is brilliant and has the audience hanging on his every word.
Stoke has DeVito down, from the accent to the attitude. He’s confident, he’s smooth, he’s got an edgy charm, and he has a great voice. Stoke has a keen sense of DeVito’s role as that older brother yet borderline bully in many of the surrounding characters’ lives, and he portrays that well. He carries us through the story with all of the bluster and bravado that makes DeVito such a fun role to play, and to watch.
Engelhardt is a wonderful Gaudio from the moment he is introduced as the potential final member of the original Four Seasons. He has a boyishness about him that works well for Gaudio, particularly leading into his humorous rendition of “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)” toward the end of the first act. A strong voice and great chemistry with the other group members, particularly DiCostanzo, creates a full portrayal of Gaudio that the audience clearly enjoys.
Cangiamila is enjoyable as the proclaimed “Ringo Starr” of the Four Seasons. Massi has some quirks that, recurring throughout the show, allow Cangiamila to draw them out for some good laughs. His delivery of the Tommy monologue at Gyp’s meeting is spot-on and has the audience in stitches. Cangiamila holds down the bass notes with ease, rounding out the sound of the group.
Justin Michael Duval plays music producer Bob Crewe (and others). Duval has fantastic energy right from the start, and his portrayal of Crewe is quite funny. He plays up the eccentricities of Crewe, hitting all the right notes to craft a quirky character that has the audience laughing more times than not.
Mobster Gyp DeCarlo (and others) is portrayed by Ryan Williams. Williams has just the right presence to give the mobster a balance of menace and suavity, with an additional touch of humor. Like most of the cast, Williams plays a number of other characters as well, transitioning seamlessly from serious to hilarious and back again with each scene change.
Frankie’s first wife, Mary Delgado (and others), is played by Amanda Pinto. She’s fierce, she’s powerful, and yet she still brings a softness to the character when necessary. Pinto is really wonderful as Delgado, as well as in the many other roles she takes on over the course of the show. I particularly enjoyed her duet with DiCostanzo on “My Eyes Adored You.”
Abigail McLendon plays Frankie and Mary’s daughter, Francine (and others). She captures the volatile youth of Francine well, while also keeping that girlish charm. McLendon also gets a chance to show off as the lead singer of the girl group, The Angels, in the song “My Boyfriend’s Back.”
Journalist Lorraine (and others), another of Frankie’s love interests, is beautifully embodied by Aerie Williams. She has a strength, yet a sweetness to her, shown in the support of Frankie, and yet in the decision to ultimately leave him. Williams also does an excellent job in the range of ensemble characters she covers.
Matthew Boyd Snyder is an absolute riot as Joe Pesci – yes, that Joe Pesci, the actor – and others. Every line is delivered with a humorous energy, his vocal choices backed up by great physical ones, scampering about the stage as he attempts to weasel his way into the politics of the group. Snyder really nails it as Pesci and is incredibly fun to watch.
Rounding out the company is Gus Stuckey as Barry Belson (and others). Stuckey plays everyone from the disc jockey to a bouncer, dancing and singing his way through a slew of ensemble roles. He gives an all-around strong performance, and shines in this track.
Anthony Cangiamila, Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo, Matthew Stoke, Matthew Boyd Snyder, Christian Engelhardt and Amanda Pinto in Jersey Boys at ACT of CT (ACT of CT)
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Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo, Christian Engelhardt, Anthony Cangiamila, and Matthew Stoke in
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT (ACT of CT) |
Scenic design by Jack Mehler is simple, yet effective. Most of the locations are evoked through individual scenic elements that are set and struck for the various scenes, all with a realistic, lived-in feel, set within the lives of the Four Seasons. The set is supported well by the projections from designer Joey Moro. The upstage wall is a projection surface that adds to the world of the show, bringing us from the streets of New Jersey to the insides of clubs and concert halls.
Lighting designer Charlie Morrison does some excellent work in this production. With a show like this, there needs to be relatively natural lighting in some of the scenes, while also pulling out all the stops in the elaborate Four Seasons show numbers. Morrison has crafted a full range of looks, really utilizing color and angles to the fullest.
Costumes by designer Tristan Raines, supported by costume coordinator Jillian Mitchell, are well-suited to the characters and the world of the show. I always enjoy seeing the iconic red jackets that make their mark on the promotional materials for Jersey Boys, as well as the tons of other costumes that appear in this show. Despite the relatively small cast size, the company members are constantly changing costumes and characters, and it’s an impressive lineup of garments. Hair and wig design by Earon Chew Nealey is equally well done, though there were a few moments at the performance I attended when it seemed that a wig or two wasn’t set on the head properly – the downside of sitting so close to the stage.
Sound design by Shannon Slaton is effective. I’m always curious to see how the balance will be when there’s a large pit playing on a show with big numbers like this, and Slaton has balanced and tuned the production very well.
Lighting designer Charlie Morrison does some excellent work in this production. With a show like this, there needs to be relatively natural lighting in some of the scenes, while also pulling out all the stops in the elaborate Four Seasons show numbers. Morrison has crafted a full range of looks, really utilizing color and angles to the fullest.
Costumes by designer Tristan Raines, supported by costume coordinator Jillian Mitchell, are well-suited to the characters and the world of the show. I always enjoy seeing the iconic red jackets that make their mark on the promotional materials for Jersey Boys, as well as the tons of other costumes that appear in this show. Despite the relatively small cast size, the company members are constantly changing costumes and characters, and it’s an impressive lineup of garments. Hair and wig design by Earon Chew Nealey is equally well done, though there were a few moments at the performance I attended when it seemed that a wig or two wasn’t set on the head properly – the downside of sitting so close to the stage.
Sound design by Shannon Slaton is effective. I’m always curious to see how the balance will be when there’s a large pit playing on a show with big numbers like this, and Slaton has balanced and tuned the production very well.
Matthew Boyd Snyder, Anthony Cangiamila, Matthew Stoke, Gus Stuckey, Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo, Christian Engelhardt, and Ryan Williams in Jersey Boys at ACT of CT (ACT of CT)
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Christian Engelhardt, Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo, Matthew Stoke, and Anthony Cangiamila in
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT (ACT of CT) |
Jersey Boys at ACT of CT is an enjoyable ride from start to finish. It’s got all the makings of a fun night out at the theatre – iconic songs, a memorable story, and a talented cast – and is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser as the run continues. Experience the production for yourself – see Jersey Boys at ACT of CT now through November 17.
Jersey Boys runs October 17-November 17, 2024, at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets online at actofct.org/jersey-boys or by calling the Box Office at (475) 215-5497.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
Jersey Boys runs October 17-November 17, 2024, at ACT of CT in Ridgefield, CT. Learn more and purchase tickets online at actofct.org/jersey-boys or by calling the Box Office at (475) 215-5497.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.