Review: JERSEY BOYS, Trafalgar Theatre - West End

Besties, Jersey Boys is back in the West End, with the revival reopening the stunning, newly refurbished Trafalgar Theatre last week.

The brand new art deco design creates a unique venue in the West End and is perfect for the show in question, almost as if it was designed with Jersey Boys in mind. The seats are extremely comfortable and the stage is nice and close, making for an intimate personal experience.

The show returns with its original scenic design by Klara Zieglerova, which accommodates each location the book takes us to, and at an incredibly fast pace. The iconic rising microphones let you know when a hit is about to be performed and the live drummer travelling across the stage is always a joy to watch.

The production itself however lacks a little something. From the outset, the sound design feels too quiet and as a consequence, occasionally loses crucial lead vocals to the wheels of the set, meaning creating an atmosphere or connection with the audience is a struggle. The actors, therefore, have to work double time to make up for it but even this sometimes misses the mark.

You can see the incredible amount of work that the performers have all put into their respective roles but we do feel that certain characters have been miscast in this production. The talent is there, the potential is massive and for this reason, we feel that if the Four Seasons were to return to their roles in a few years’ time, we'd be writing a different story here.

A stand out within the cast, however, especially when given their time to shine in Act 2, is Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi. Wilson is able to break through the barrier and truly sell his side of the story to the audience; his "this was closer" moment (If you know, you know!) is hilarious.

The finale is also a joy. Despite the few issues with the production, the sound finally being turned up, the band getting to showcase their skill and the cast all being present on stage really gets your heart going - it truly is how the rest of the show should be. "Oh What a Night" will forever be a classic, and happily ends the show on a high.

What this revival unfortunately lacks as a whole is clear direction. Emotional beats sometimes fail to land properly and the stakes often don't feel high enough. Our overall experience of this production leads us to wonder if there is really a need or place for a Jersey Boys revival in 2021? The show also notably lacks diversity and, paired with the treatment of its female characters, makes for quite an uncomfortable watch in today's theatre landscape.

This said, Jersey Boys is still a good show. The music is solid and catchy (you'll still be singing the songs on your way out) and the book allows for an in-depth look at the issues the band faced. Unfortunately, this production just falls slightly short of expectations, perhaps suffering from the shadow of productions gone by.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

Jersey Boys is currently booking in London until 2 January 2022. To book tickets, please click here.