Jersey Boys - The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.

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Jersey Boys – 20th Anniversary Tour

Some shows you enjoy, some you’d happily see again, and then there’s Jersey Boys. A production I can return to time and time again and still leave wondering how soon I can come back!

Back at the Regent Theatre in Hanley as part of its 20th Anniversary Tour, it remains firmly among my favourite productions. This was my fourth time seeing the show, and when I reviewed it back in 2022, I said it was one of the easiest reviews I’d ever had the pleasure of writing because, quite simply, I loved it. Four years later, that feeling hasn’t changed.

Jersey Boys tells the story of four lads from the wrong side of the tracks who found their own sound and became Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. But behind the sharp suits, polished performances and glorious harmonies lies a much messier story of friendship, ambition, loyalty, money troubles and personal heartbreak.

That’s what makes this show so special. The music might get you through the door, but it’s the people behind it who keep you completely invested.

And what music it is! With songs including Beggin’, Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, you’re reminded just how much incredible music came from this group.

Even if you wouldn’t consider yourself a Four Seasons fan, I’d be surprised if you didn’t recognise a good number of the songs. There’s a fair chance you’ll find yourself thinking, “I didn’t realise this was one of theirs!” Their music has been covered and rediscovered so often that it continues to find new audiences. There’s something awesome about songs that can bring different generations together like that.

What I’ve always loved about Jersey Boys is that it takes the time to make you care about how those songs came to exist. Watching the group find its feet, develop its sound and begin to realise what it might be capable of makes the big musical moments all the more rewarding.

When those familiar harmonies come together and the Four Seasons are brought to life, it’s electric. Walk Like a Man remains one of those moments that raises the hairs on the back of my neck. However many times I see this show, that feeling never seems to wear off.

The staging helps draw you into their world, moving between the grit of their beginnings and the glamour of their success. The costumes, choreography and attention to period detail all play their part, but it’s those recognisable gestures and perfectly timed movements at the microphones that really complete the picture. Suddenly, you’re watching the group you know from those classic performances.

Leading this anniversary cast is Luke Baker as Frankie Valli, alongside Carlo Boumouglbay as Tommy DeVito, Lewis Kennedy as Nick Massi and Toby Miles as Bob Gaudio.

Taking on Frankie Valli is quite a task. That distinctive falsetto is so central to the group’s identity that audiences arrive knowing exactly what they’re hoping to hear. Baker gives the role the vocal presence it needs, while keeping us connected to the man behind that extraordinary sound.

Together, the four capture what makes this group so compelling. Four different personalities whose musical partnership produces something special, even when their relationships are under considerable strain. You’re rooting for them, laughing with them and, occasionally, wishing you could step in and tell them to make better decisions!

The moments when the boys address the audience directly remain a particular favourite of mine. Hearing their different perspectives gives the storytelling such a personal feel. It’s like being let in on what really happened, although naturally everyone has their own version of events!

There’s plenty of humour too. These lads never entirely lose the roguishness of their beginnings, and that’s a large part of their appeal. Be warned, though! Their vocabulary is as colourful as their story, so expect some strong language along the way.

My only real criticism of this tour concerns the sound balance during some of the dialogue over music. At times, either the music was too loud or the voices were too quiet, making it difficult to catch what was being said. In a show where the storytelling matters just as much as the songs, it’s frustrating to lose those little pieces of conversation. A better balance would make a real difference.

That said, it didn’t take away my affection for the production or stop me having a cracking evening.

Underneath all the razzmatazz, Jersey Boys has an enormous heart. The success is thrilling, the humour feels natural, and the more painful moments remind you that these were real people whose lives were far more complicated than those immaculate harmonies might suggest.

Back in 2022, I described it as a wonderful journey of dreams, trials, tribulations, pitfalls and possibilities. I still can’t think of a better way to put it.

Twenty years on, this show continues to prove why it’s so loved. Whether you’ve followed the Four Seasons for years or simply fancy an evening of fantastic music and a story worth hearing, I can’t recommend it enough.

Quite simply, I still love it!

Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jersey Boys plays at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, until Saturday 31 October 2026. For tickets, visit ATG Tickets.