Quincy It’s easy to become lost in the past when strolling around old Quincy, with its riverboats, red brick, and horses. However, earlier this month, the Quincy Community Theatre presented the true story of rock and roll quartet The Four Seasons, taking viewers to a different era and location: New Jersey in the 1960s.
Jersey Boys, also referred to be a jukebox musical, includes the group’s songs, such as December 1963. I can’t take my eyes off of you, Big Girls Don’t Cry, and (Oh, What a Night). Whenever a well-known jingle appeared, the enthusiastic, nearly full audience began to dance in their seats.
There are a lot of scenes throughout the show. A segment of the show is narrated by each of the quartet members. Jeremy Kurfman’s character Tommy DeVito presents the group’s formation. They become famous because of the hit sounds that Bob Gaudio (Dominic Regner) creates. The group’s personal dynamics are explained by Nick Massi (Nicholas Lickfeld), and the show concludes with Frankie Valli (Patrick Hedges) describing how the group broke apart.
Since the play is based on a real group, it is essential to select voices that fit the original quartet’s vocal ranges. This gets more challenging, though, because lead singer Frankie Valli is well-known for having a strong upper range that is so distinctive that it helped him become well-known. Because Valli’s high voice sounded so unusual, listeners occasionally thought there was a fifth member of the trio. It’s difficult to find an actor who can sing this part, much less one who does it well. With Hedges, however, the Quincy Community Theatre accomplishes precisely that. Yes, the high notes nearly sounded like they were being hit by someone else in the wings.
The other vocalists, notably Jeremy Kurfman, also perform well. His deep voice is well received as he leads the audience through rapid-fire scene changes. In addition to his continuous dancing, his voice is remarkably fluid. The quartet’s harmonies are flawless. A welcome example of the female range in a presentation that is dominated by men is the Angels’ rendition of My Boyfriend’s Back.
The vividly colored TV set is one of the striking settings. The audience is transported to the 1960s by the cigarette smoke, wide-parting hair, and colorful clothing. Particularly in the first act’s finale, the lighting design is outstanding. The microphone setup at Quincy Community Theatre should be improved, however occasionally it can be difficult to hear the singers, or some are considerably louder than others.
The show was even praised by Mayor Linda Moore, who began Monday’s city council meeting by expressing her support for the cast and staff.
Mayor Moore remarked, “I’ve seen the same production at the Muny in St. Louis, and St. Louis has nothing on Quincy.” Our cast and staff, in my opinion, were considerably superior to what the Muny had.
