Finally had the chance to see the 2006 Tony Award for Best New Musical winning show "Jersey Boys" tonight at the Ahmanson Theater in downtown Los Angeles. I have to admit I was underwhelmed.
This show is completely based on nostalgia for the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons -- and since I don't have any it was like showing up with an invitation to the wrong party. Frankie Valli's success in the 60s came before I was old enough to pay attention to music.
But lots of Grandmas around me were bopping to the music like girls in bobbie-socks (which they probably were 40 years ago).
If this year's Tony Award to the edgy "Spring Awakening" was a matter of "art over commerce" then "Jersey Boys'" victory last year was a matter of "commerce over art."
After all, the teens and young adults of the 60s are the exact target demographic today for producers looking to sell $100 tickets to musicals.
As for me, I'm looking forward to the jukebox musical bound to hit Broadway 40 years after the breakthrough of Devo -- right about 2021.
1 comment:
Ted, I've agreed with you on so many of your posts, but never have I agreed with you more. I was so incredibly underwhelmed by this show that I wondered what was wrong with me.
I've always enjoyed the Four Seasons' slew of hits, but the show struck me as crude and not very compelling. Even more so, I don't think it was deserving of the Best Musical nod since it had no original score.
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