Mercury Theater’s “Jersey Boys,” with Adrian Aguilar, Jason Michael Evans, Michael Metcalf, Andrew MacNaughton/Photo: Liz Lauren
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There is a line in “Jersey Boys” about Frankie Valli having to work until he’s ninety to pay off the half-million-dollar-plus debt of his bandmate, Tommy DeVito. It is hard not to be struck by the irony of the fact that the real-life Frankie Valli, who turns ninety on May 3, is out doing exactly that, despite that debt having been paid off decades ago. In fact, Valli returns to the area this fall, to the Rosemont on October 12-13. Mercury Theater co-executive director and “Jersey Boys” co-director L. Walter Stearns is hoping that the open-run show will still be running. And given the extraordinary quality of the production that Stearns co-directs with Brenda Didier, it very well could be.
It has been a fourteen-year dream of Stearns for “Jersey Boys”—such a popular show in its original Broadway in Chicago run that a separate multi-year Chicago company was created—to have its first regional production in Chicago.
Although there was an initially bumpy start—a couple of first-week canceled performances because of COVID in the cast—full performances have resumed.
The intimacy of the Mercury Theater setting does make it feel as if you are experiencing an early Four Seasons show and interacting with group members sharing their story as they go. It’s a very in-your-face backstage production that feels like you really are backstage.
Incarnations of the original production placed casting priority on singing voices and ability to blend to the point where cast members would often go on performing Four Seasons tribute shows after leaving “Jersey Boys.”
The Mercury production emphasizes the drama as much as the music, and takes great care to provide nuance to the individuality of each group member.
Mercury Theater’s “Jersey Boys,” with Adrian Aguilar, Michael Metcalf, Andrew MacNaughton, Jason Michael Evans/Photo: Liz Lauren
Michael Metcalf as Frankie Valli takes us on an epic journey from a naive, shy Jersey kid with a golden voice to someone trying to keep the group together and balancing fame and temptation with a dysfunctional family life that is the byproduct of his life on the road.
Adrian Aguilar, playing Frankie’s older friend Tommy DeVito, makes sure that his portrayal of the band founder is likable and charming enough that his despicable actions don’t overshadow the good. We ultimately see him through Frankie’s eyes—despite his reckless and narcissistic ways, without his hubris, Frankie and the rest of the group would still be singing on neighborhood street corners.
Andrew MacNaughton as an initially nerdy Bob Gaudio is the completing piece of the group puzzle—he writes and produces the band’s hits and is portrayed as exactly what he wanted to be: the one calling the shots behind-the-scenes.
And Jason Michael Evans almost steals the show as group sideman Nick Massi, who finds that he just can’t take it anymore and passionately stands up for himself and leaves.
An excellent ensemble cast take on multiple other roles credibly.
The familiar music of the show is generously supported by an augmented, screened, onstage band that leans the production more in a show direction than a rock direction.
On stage at Mercury Theater, 3745 North Southport, through July 28. Tickets are available at mercurytheaterchicago.com.
