‘Jersey Boys’ at Toby’s: Oh, What a Night!

Benjamin Campion, Ben Clark, Nicky Kaider and Patrick Gover

One summer’s day in 1962, as a youngster I recall listening on a portable radio an interesting new song with a unique sound: “She-erry, Sherry baby, She-erry, Sherry baby…” The falsetto lead vocal with backup singers was tuneful, rhythmic and haunting. Many others agreed.

“Sherry” vaulted to the top of the Billboard Top 100 and held the spot for 5 weeks in 1962 and was The Four Seasons’ first big hit. It launched the group into stardom with Frankie Valli as the lead singer and the group was ultimately enshrined in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.    A multitude of Four Seasons’ songs experienced success like "Sherry " that I along with millions worldwide have enjoyed over the years.

The Four Seasons was among the most potent pop rock groups of the sixties. This despite the fact it had to compete with iconic groups like the Beach Boys, the advent of Motown, myriad superstar solo performers, and the historic British invasion, the band still sold 175 million records worldwide.

And here I am again, over six decades since “Sherry,” taking pleasure in the work of The Four Seasons. It could have just been a concert that played the pop group’s numerous hits, and the audience would have been enthralled. 

Jersey Boys, the well-received jukebox musical, is now gracing the in-the-round stage at Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia for the first time. It is not a concert as one might have expected. It’s a gritty biographical story that weaves together those fabulous songs and the roller coaster lives of the band members.

The musical tells the story of a bunch of young guys hanging around street corners in Newark, New Jersey getting into mischief and more.  They formed a group called The Four Lovers that went nowhere; then it evolved into The Four Seasons once “hit” songs were written; and they eventually became Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. 

Under the impeccable direction and choreography by Helen Hayes award winner Mark Minnick, the show is a tapestry of superb performances both in music and acting. Blending the performance of memorable hits and strong acting from a fantastic cast amid precise staging, Jersey Boys at Toby’s is a stellar entertainment experience.

Jersey Boys with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice has been a Broadway success capturing four Tony Awards in 2006 including Best Musical and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2007.  It brings to life the story of the creation of The Four Seasons through its ups and downs—and there were many of them—not unlike many popular musical groups who have experienced huge success but also internal splits, money issues, mistrust, individual tragedies, romantic tensions, and run-ins with the law.

Much of their popular catalogue of hits is included in this masterpiece of a production. The aforementioned “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Walk Like A Man,”, “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” “My Eyes Adored You,” “Dawn (Go Away),” “Stay,” “Let’s Hang On,” “Rag Doll,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and many others are among them.  All told, over 30 such songs are in the show, including 5 Number 1 hits plus one from the pop group the Angels (“My Boyfriend’s Back). There is also a comedic appearance by Joe Pesci (Christopher Decker) and for good measure Ed Sullivan (via screen projection) to lend even more nostalgia.

"In a breakout performance, Nicky Kaider is simply sensational."

Not all songs are performed to completion, but they go far enough to recognize and enjoy them. Music Director and Conductor Ross Scott Rawlings (Nathan Scavilla conducts in other performances) and the six-piece orchestra do a splendid job backing up the outstanding vocals.

Perfectly cast, the very good looking core performers—Patrick Gover as Tommy DeVito, Benjamin Campion as Nick Massi, Ben Clark as Bob Gaudio and Nicky Kaider as Frankie Valli—are spot on in their individual and blended vocals and excel in their acting skills particularly during the tension-filled encounters.  They also replicate the group members’ characteristic dancing moves during their numbers attired in vintage suits and ties, especially those cardinal-red blazers, designed by Heather Jackson that add more realism to an already realistic production.  

Each member of the group shares his own personality, history, goals, values, problems and achievements distinct from the others, which are carried out with supreme excellence while those wonderful songs are performed.

Patrick Gover is scintillating as bad-boy Tommy DeVito, the guy who formed the group.  In addition to his strong vocals, which are evident from the outset when he sings “Silhouettes,” he ably conveys the gruff character who has been in and out of jails, plunders the group into debt with a dangerous loan shark, hides unpaid taxes from the group and hits on Frankie’s girlfriend.

Benjamin Campion does a good job as Nick Massi and is The Four Seasons’ bass player.  He is the one who helped train Frankie with his vocals.  Mr. Campion offers dead-pan humor in his role, acts with skill when it is his turn to narrate and sings very well in the group numbers.

As Bob Gaudio, the songwriter and keyboards player who previously experienced success with the hit “Short Shorts,” Ben Clark, is excellent. Driven to write hit songs and delves deeply into his music, Gaudio decides to execute a side deal with Frankie.  Mr. Clark gets to showcase his singing talent in “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)”.

Then there is Nicky Kaider as The Four Seasons’ lead singer Frankie Valli. Frankie had to cope with keeping the group together, bailing Tommy out of his debt, dealing with marital strife and enduring an unimaginable tragedy. 

In a breakout performance, Mr. Kaider is simply sensational. Oozing with charisma, he conquers the extraordinary vocal challenge of singing the lead and does so with aplomb all the way through the end with amazing endurance. Pitch perfect in every song including falsettos, Mr. Kaider crushed it. If you close your eyes and listen to him sing, you’d swear you’re hearing Frankie Valli.  Even if you open them, you’d think it was him.  That’s how authentic Mr. Kaider’s performance is.

And if that isn’t enough, his acting skills that exhibit a full range of emotions from anger to triumph to despair to resolve are jaw-dropping. Bravo to Nicky Kaider on this elite-level tour de force!

Helen Hayes award winner David James is splendid as Bob Crewe, the producer and lyricist for the group.  He is campy and flamboyant, and the band recognizes he is “a little off” in the manner of Liberace but he delivers the hits.  Mr. James, as always, comes through.

Other notable performances are turned in by Brian Lyons-Burke as the mob boss Gyp DeCarlo, MaryKate Brouillet as Frankie’s first wife Mary Delgado, and the energetic Anwar Thomas in a variety of roles.

In fact, the remainder of the talented cast and Ensemble perform multiple roles. They include: Leela Aviles-Dawson, Brandon Bedore as Tommy’s brother Nick, Carter Crosby, Christopher Decker, Lydia Gifford, Adam Grabau who also did a wonderful job providing the pre-show introductions and announcements, Shane Lowry. Jackson Miller, and Helen Hayes award winner Jeffrey Shankle.

David A. Hopkins provides excellent scenic and lighting design creating a concert atmosphere. Many set pieces are employed denoting a recording studio, cars, TV cameras and even a 4-toilet holding cell in a police station.

Tori Alioto and David A. Hopkins make good use of projections on screens along the theater’s walls to include “breathtaking” images of New Jersey.

And Mark Smedley’s sound design is excellent in that all the songs and dialogue are clearly audible as well as sound effects.

The Four Seasons over decades had quite a journey individually and as a band before and after the release of that iconic hit “Sherry.”  Jersey Boys at Toby’s conveys this ride so adroitly. It is a thoroughly entertaining masterpiece steeped in nostalgia and wonderful music. Extraordinary talent in both cast and crew under skillful direction makes this an absolute don’t miss show.

Running time. Two hours and 50 minutes with an intermission.

Advisory: Jersey Boys contains some profanity and sexual situations and is not recommended for small children.

 Jersey Boys runs through September1 at Toby’s the Dinner Theatre of Columbia, 4900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia, MD 21044.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 410-730-8311or visiting online.

The Menu for the fabulous buffet is shown here.

Drink Special: Rag Doll

Photos by Jeri Tidwell Photography