'Jersey Boys' opens at Venetian's Palazzo

Over the weekend I saw the opening of "Jersey Boys" at the Venetian's new Palazzo. It is a good show. The cast is talented, and here's a special shout-out to Rick Faugno, who portrays Frankie Valli and easily captures the singer's signature ethereal vocals.

After the closures of "The Producers," "Hairspray," "Avenue Q" and "Spamalot," "Jersey Boys" is not the sure thing that the producers and resort probably expected when they planned the show. Also, the original 4 Seasons' fans are getting on in years, and I noticed that many in the audience seemed to know only the biggest hits of the group, as opposed to "Mamma Mia!" where every song is loudly recalled by the boomers who fill the theater. Or even "Phantom: the Las Vegas Spectacular," where the audience seems to know every nuance of the music.

The story "Jersey Boys" tells is also more dramatic and darker than the light pop of hits like "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" might lead people to suspect. The plot is gripping if a familiar mix to fans of "Behind the Music" and "The Sopranos." But the death of a child (as happens to Valli) is not usually a topic touched in Vegas production shows, nor is ruining your life through out-of-control gambling (band member Tommy DeVito), both of which are part of "Jersey Boys."

Common sense says "Jersey Boys" will be closing as soon as someone gets sick of losing money. But my common sense led me wrong in predicting success for "Hairspray" and "Spamalot." Both those shows did much to fit into Vegas, including cutting, rewriting and eliminating intermissions. "The Producers" even tried adding star power with David Hasselhoff to the Strip. Nothing seems to be helping these Broadway shows compete with a Strip gone Cirque. Meanwhile, "Jersey Boys" has a far more complex plot than any of the shows that closed and violates Vegas custom with an eight-minute intermission in the middle.

After the opening there was a celebration of Valli's 74th birthday. I wish him long health.

"Jersey Boys" wonderfully tells the true magic behind the success against the odds of four nobody guys from Jersey who reached international musical stardom as the 4 Seasons. My guess is that "Jersey Boys" will need similar magic to conquer Vegas. But as the show proves, it can happen. (Courtesy photo by Jacob Andrzejczak.)