‘Jersey Boys’ in Chicago

For those who have only seen movies in a theater, get yourselves to the ‘real’ kind of theater: Go see a musical. You’ll see phenomenal acting (there are no re-takes on the live stage) and hear great singing (unless you hate that for some reason, but there are plenty of great plays, too). You won’t sit in front of a screen while people around you do things like check their cell phones, get up to use the bathroom and chat about unrelated things.

In a theatrical production, everyone pays attention.

Whenever I go to New York City, I scrounge around for discount tickets to see at least one Broadway (or off-Broadway) show. I now go to the movies about once a year, so I figure I more than save up the money for a live show.

I’m not in New York right now, but today I saw a fantastic production of “Jersey Boys” in Chicago. It tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, New Jersey boys who became a huge musical act known for such songs as “Sherry” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” The show has done remarkably well in Chicago, and it’s no wonder: The cast belts out one fantastic song after another, and before you know it, you’re engrossed in their lives and rooting for the characters to succeed. It’s no wonder the show won a Tony Award for best musical, and that it’s been a big hit in multiple cities.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that I had great seats in the orchestra level at a price most people pay for the second level or back of the mezzanine. It turned out that marathon runners get discount tickets!

Also, today’s show went off without a hitch, unlike last night’s show that was rather rudely interrupted by a bomb scare outside. I’m not sure what it says about the culprit if one of the two bombs’ letters read, “This is not going to end good,” though it does show that he could use a community college English class.

One more tidbit relating to the show: In less than five minutes after the show ended, not one but TWO people asked me if I liked the show because I am “so young.” Apparently they thought I wouldn’t know the music and wouldn’t understand it. YES, I knew almost all of the songs, and YES, I understood it. But thanks, people, for thinking I’m still young.