Halfway through the
second act Frankie Valli (Joseph Leo Bwarie), telling his version of how the
Four Seasons came together as an act, steps center stage in the spotlight,
starts to sing "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and by the time he finishes the last
note stage life has merged with real life and each and every member of the
audience sitting in the Adrienne Arsht Center For The Performing Arts in Miami,
Florida, has become a lifetime fan of the man. A short time later, at the
finale, when he is joined by Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda), Tommie DeVito (Matt
Bailey) and Bob Gaudio (Quinhn VanAntwerp), to be inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and sing, "Who Loves You?" the audience stands up and lets go
with the applause, shaking, swaying and cheers they have wanted to let out all
night.

As each of the Four
Seasons tell their side of story it seems like we will once again hear of a
group of guys (or in the case of the Supremes and other female groups) from the
50s and 60s who come from the neighborhood, have 'overnight' success after
paying their dues and then fall apart going their own way and one steps out into
the spotlight having fame as a soloist. Tommy is the one who gets the group
together, gambles, shorts the IRS, gets himself, and the rest of the group
involved with the mob and though they never discuss he breaks one of the
'rules', by hitting on Frankie's girlfriend.

Next, Gaudio who
aleady had a hit, "(Who Wears) Short Shorts" takes over the narative. He would
write most of the Four Seasons hits like, "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't cry" and
"Walk Like A Man" that propel the group to the top of the heap. The writing and
playing of the music always comes first for Bob so that when Tommy is confronted
with not paying one of their hotel bills and they wind up in jail over a weekend
only to be approached by a loan shark who wants the $150, 000 Tommy owes him
it's the beginning of the end.

Nick, the fourth
Season, takes over the story bringing up that Tommy was always jealous of
Valli's success and they were all tired of the constant touring and no home life
which resulted in Frankie's getting a divorce. Nick saw himself as an after
thought and was an alcoholic. When Tommy is 'forced' to leave the group it isn't
long before Nick says he has enough and wants to go home. It is at this point
that Valli takes over the story, the stage and the audience.

The cast members,
except those playing the  Four Seasons all have  multple roles and fill them
quite capably. Bob Crewe, the producer and who wrote songs with Bob Gaudio, is
played by Jonathan Hadley, comes on strong with a gay persona which disappears
as the show continues and another player of note is Joseph Siravo as a mob boss.
Quinn VavAntwerp, as Bob Gaudio, comes off as the best actor of the Four
Seasons, while Matt Bailey, as Tommy, goes over the top with the Jersey accent
now and then. Michael Lomenda stays in the background as Nick did with the group
and Joseph Leo Bwarie, though not quite having the falsetto the real Frankie
Valli has, comes through when/as needed. The four actor/singers come through as
the Four Seasons singing group.

The choreography by
Sergio Trujillo captures the moves of the original group while the director Des
McAnuff guides the cast with a strong hand through the paces of the book by
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice while the conductor gives them strong
backing.

A note about the
audience: I don't recall seeing so many teenagers and young adults at any other
show this season which is a good sign for theatre and doo-wop groups!

First act: 1 hour
and 12 minutes  Intermision: 20 minutes  Second act: 1 hour  Total: 2 hours and
20 minutes

Strobe lights

Future touring stops:
Tampa, Minneapolis, St. Louis

Balance of the
Adrienne Arsht Center 2010-2011 season: "In The Heights" March 29- April 3
 "Hair" May 31-June 5