by Kimberly Harper

Growing up, the “oldies” station got a lot of play in my house. My dad especially was big into music, and had a turntable setup that would have been the envy of anyone back in the day. My parents were excellent dancers (genetics, how you have failed me!) and if it had a good beat and was released prior to 1985 or so, I probably had it memorized.

Now this didn’t make for a very socially adept middle schooler. I mean – and this is a true story – seventh grade me saw a girl doodling a band name in her notebook and I thought she literally enjoyed smashing pumpkins. But it did mean that the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons was, despite being born in the 80s, the soundtrack to my childhood.

Which catches you up to me, on Tuesday watching “Jersey Boys” at PPAC. The jukebox musical is a trend that seems to be here to stay, and essentially the show is the Four Seasons’ music catalog set around a loose story line that chronicles the formation of the group. I’m sure there’s quite a bit of artistic license taken with the facts, but nevertheless, oh what a night of entertainment!

Let’s start with the talent. Frankie Valli (initially “Vally” until a girlfriend informs him that “y is a bulls—t letter” – oh yes, there is language in this one!) is famous in part for his singular sound. So the fact that the casting directors have managed to find actors who fit the physical description (short), the vocal range (glass shattering) AND the dance ability (disco splits, disco splits, and more disco splits) is more than a small accomplishment. In this tour, Aaron De Jesus  is a dead ringer for Frankie, but Drew Seeley as Bob Gaudio, Keith White as Nicky Massi and Matthew Dailey as Tommy DeVito are just as well cast and the four work perfectly together.

So, the show sounds great, and the choreography is spot on – let’s talk plot. It’s a surprisingly in depth story that highlights some of the biggest moments in the group’s tenure. DJs who didn’t want to give air time to what would become one of the group’s most memorable hits. Getting in deep with loan sharks. Bailing out one member of the group only to have the other members hit the road. And throughout, well known and well loved songs from Bob Gaudio’s “Short Shorts” hit that got him in with the group to “December 1963,” “C’mon Marianne” and “Ragdoll.” Audience participation is encouraged – clap along, applaud after “concerts”, get up and dance (bows/final number only). And to the rude folks who love to walk out during the bows – seriously, why do you do this? – you missed a couple more numbers and it was a good time.

The lighting, creative staging and costumes make this a visually interesting show. The set itself is very minimal and industrial, mostly grid-like scaffolding meant to evoke a blue-collar New Jersey, and it works well, even when the group is elsewhere, such as “The Ed Sullivan Show” or a dive bar in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes with tours you get the sense the set has been stripped down for ease of take-down, to the detriment of the production, but not so in this case.

This is a fun show but not family friendly, unless you’re cool with your kid hearing lots and lots of f-bombs in a short time span. The story isn’t always pretty, but it’s one that rings true, and has a fantastic soundtrack to back it up. PPAC has a hit with this tour, and you have until Sunday to see for yourself what fun “Jersey Boys” is.

“Jersey Boys” is being performed at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets start at $36 and may be obtained by calling (401) 421-2787, or visiting ppacri.org.