ENCORE MAGAZINE - Reviewed By Johnny Mans, Editor

Having been to the U.S. with my family last year to celebrate my son’s birthday, we decided on a theatre break which saw us visiting the Bank of
America Theatre in Chicago to see the much acclaimed Jersey Boys, having missed it in San Francisco the year before.

It was an excellent production as only the Americans can do and gave us the story of the legendary Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons with many of the hit songs that made them famous.

With this in mind I was intrigued to see that a production of BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY was being advertised at a theatre not far from my home in Hertfordshire, which also paid tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons… and I was invited to view the production and review same.

Publicising the songs of Valli and his group, and presented by top producer Jack Applebaum, how could I refuse such an invitation for my wife Becky and me to visit the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar on a chilly March evening?

We were not disappointed!

With four guys bursting on to the stage, resplendent in their pastel coloured jackets, great vocals, fabulous backing band, superb staging, first class choreography and excellent lighting… we were witnessing the amazing talents of THE EAST COAST BOYS.

It seems that Jack Applebaum had spent two years in preparation for this production, which was dedicated to his late father Bernie.. and trust me for audiences everywhere… it was well worth the wait.

Unlike The Jersey Boys whereby not all the ‘Seasons’ songs are in the show, this is a full blown concert with just about all the repertoire of the original group. They’re all in there…’Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Lets Hang On’, ’Rag Doll’, ‘Walk Like A Man’, ‘Sherry’, ‘You’re Just Too Good To Be True!’ Even an incredible rendition of ‘Silence Is Golden’ had the hairs standing up on the back of my neck.

THE EASTCOAST BOYS are real stars in their own right and I feel sure that it won’t be long before they all become household names.  DAMION SCARCELLA as Frankie Valli was outstanding and his falsetto range was the best I’ve ever heard.  JOSEPH CONNELL, WILLIAM HAZELL and TOM GUEST were the ‘Seasons’ all brilliant vocalists and dancers, they too will soon become major stars.

The show also included many humorous ‘novelty songs’, some great patter…giving an insight into the lives and career of the group… and also Valli songs that various other stars had recorded. Renditions of ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, ‘Why Do Fools Fall In Love?’, ‘My Eyes Adore You’ all made up this great evenings entertainment.

Praise must go to producer Jack Applebaum and Carole Todd (choreographer) for presenting and staging such a great show… which even had me and my wife joining in the well deserved ‘standing ovation’ whilst waiving our arms and dancing in the aisles… just like the rest of the capacity audience!

A really nice touch was the artistes “meeting & greeting” the audience in the foyer as they were leaving the theatre. Autographs and photos galore,

Not to be missed. Remember the name… BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY!

JOHNNY MANS, Editor of Encore Magazine
(trade publication to the UK Theatre & Entertainment Industry)