I got a standing room ticket for Jersey Boys after my unlucky try on the lottery of Wicked and The Book of Mormon. Lucky for me is that they actually give seats for standing room. And even though it is called “partial view”, I can actually see the whole stage except a little bit on the left hand side of the upper stage. I have to say it is really good seat compared to the Orchestra seats in the Chicago, in which the woman sat in front of me blocked half of my view. The seat is on the third floor. You may think that it is far away from the stage, but it turns out to be not bad. I could see the actors face clearly. And nothing blocked my view.
Now let’s talk about the content of the show. It is the Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, a famous band in the US back in 1960s. Frankie was the most popular singer in the Four Seasons. As it was one of the most popular band back at that time, the Four Seasons is part of the memory of many senior people in the US. I can image how this show brings their memory back. Even though I am not a fan of pop and rock myself, I have to admit the songs were really good. Audience emotion was high, especially in the later half of the second part. After one of the most touching song, I heard audience applauded as loud as that at the end of a show. And I even saw one audience stood up to show his appreciation, which never had happened in another show that I ever had ever seen.
The story was good and easy to understand, better than that of Rent, Chicago, and Godspell. It may because the song in this show is not to tell the story, when that in most other musical shows are. Or maybe my English gets improved in a short time? 
How I wish! It didn’t bring a lot of laugh like Mamamia or Priscilla Queen of the Desert, but sometimes it is good to watch a show that has some deeper thoughts in it. Jersey Boys is not just about a band, it is about its ups and downs; it is about real life of real people. From how the band was formed, to how the band got dismissed, to how Frankie carried on his performance with Bob the music writer to how Frankie screwed up his marriage because he put too much of himself in his business. It got me to think about my life, my pursue of success and my family.
There was a guy named Nick in the Four Seasons who left the band because he wanted to go home and take care of his family. He didn’t regret his choice and he did form a happy family with four children. If he stayed with the band, he still wouldn’t be the most famous one because he wasn’t as talented as Frankie and Bob. And he trusted that Frankie and Bob, with their talent, can still success even without him. He knew his limitation. And he knew his priority. That’s something that I admire and should learn from.
This show gave me a chance of reflection. I enjoyed the music. And the $27 for the seat I got was a real bargain. I highly recommend this show. I will summarize my feels of this show below:
(I don’t like to make it too complicated so the highest score is 3 stars here)
Music: ★★★
– The music is the songs of the Four Seasons. Some of them are really touching.
Story: ★★★
– It has a good story line about real life of real people. It got me to reflect the life of my own and I think that’s what a successful story should do.
Ease of Understanding: ★★★
– Even though this show is not for kids, it is very easy to follow. And you don’t need to hear clearly what they are singing to follow the story.
Laughs: ★☆☆
– Occasionally there is some laugh. But if you want a show that can make you laugh from the beginning to the end, you should go to another one like Mamamia or Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Arrangement of Seats: ★★★
– The high difference between the seats are just right. I don’t need to worry about somebody sits in front of me block my view, not like that in the Chicago. But it may also because I was sitting high on the third floor?
Stage Creativity: ★☆☆
– I am not saying that it is bad. But there is not much difference from other Broadway shows: There is decoration on the stage to show the background, and screens to show more information. The only creation is that they move the drummer on the stage. It seemed the actors were really playing the guitar. There are still some musician in the back stage somewhere playing the background music but I can’t figure out where.
