If you’ve seen this production before, be prepared for a little upping of the risqué factor here in Las Vegas.  The language is a little coarser, making it, some would argue, a little more authentic.  It’s Jersey, after all.

But the story and the music is the same:  the evolution of the music and the careers of kids from Jersey trying to carve out some success.

Part theater and part concert performance, Jersey Boys tells the story of the The Four Seasons, the boy band from the wrong side of the Jersey tracks.  The story is told by, and from the point of view of, four different narrators.  Each narrator represents one of the four seasons, and one of The Four Seasons, as they tell the story of the different goals and self interests that fueled their careers.

The first acts tells the story of some bumbling guys from Jersey trying to carve out a life in music.  When one of the guys gets sent off to prison, Frankie Valli starts fronting for the group, bringing a wide vocal range and an impressive falsetto.  Still, until the group met up with songwriter Bob Gaudio (Who Wears Short Shorts?), success eluded them.

Valli and Gaudio formed a songwriting partnership on the basis on a handshake.  In a world of contracts and lawyers it’s hard to believe that the partnership continues today – on that same handshake.  The partnership lead to successful times during the 60’s,with songs like Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and Walk Like a Man.  They were clean cut and establishment during a counter-culture era, but the fans loved them.

In the second act we learn that life was not all top ten hits and adoring fans for The Four Seasons.  There were very dark times of gambling (how ironic for a Vegas show), criminal conduct, drinking, womanizing and ruined marriages,and death.  The Four Seasons broke up, to be replaced by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.  The music from this stage of their careers was different, too, with hits like Stay, Let’s Hang On (to What We’ve Got) and Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry About Me).

The show came to its conclusion with one final song, the cast took its bows as the audience was on its feet in thunderous applause.  At that moment, it wasn’t theater, it was a concert. And we weren’t willing to let the bad leave the stage without an encore.

Jersey Boys performs at The Palazzo on Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7 pm.  Tuesday & Saturday at 6:30 and 9:30 pm. The theater is dark on Wednesday.  Tickets start around $65 (plus tax and handling fees), and a variety of room/ticket packages and VIP seating options are available.  The performance last about two hours, with a short break between acts.  You can purchase tickets for Jersey Boys online, through the box office on site, or through your hotel concierge.

Whether you grew up in this era, or are hearing the music of The Four Seasons for the first time, you’ll be caught up in it.  Caught up in the story of the music — and the music that is the story.  Oh what a night!

Image credit: Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

This is the 103rd year for Philadelphia’s New Year’s Day Mummers Parade, and this is one of those festivities that sound like so much fun.  I’m hoping that a few of my Philly readers chime in here and let me know if it’s as much fun as it sounds.  (Kelly?  Caroline?  Anyone?)

The history of the Mummers goes back to the Roman Festival of Saturnalia.  Latin laborers wore masks and marched around giving gifts.  There was also a Celtic version that was a little bit more like trick-or-treat, featuring costumes and little gifts.  Both events were filled with pageantry, enthusiasm, and more than a little bit of noise.

Philadelphia got into the act in 1901 with the first official Mummers Parade.  Unofficially large celebrations like this had been going on in Philadelphia for some time even though there were laws prohibiting it.  All that noise and merry-making was deemed too much of a nuisance.  No one was ever convicted of breaking this law, and the revelry eventually became sanctioned.

Since its inception, the Mummers Parade has evolved into a full fledged festival with thousand of capped, capped, and sequined participants strutting their stuff.  Mummers don’t walk, march, or even dance. They cakewalk — a strut that has become closely identified with the Mummers and the parade.

The festivities last for the entirity of New Year’s Day, and much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, is a competition between the Mummers club around the area.  Each club creates a theme, and then develops it with costumes, props, and pageantry that supports the theme.  This is BIG business, and thousands of dollars go into club competitions.  Although there is some money to be won, it’s really all about bragging rights for the entire year!

Parade entries are divided into four divisions: 

1. Comic Clubs focus on satire and ridicule, and poke fun at anyone and everyone.  From the mild to the ribald, anyone can be a target.
2. Fancy Clubs focus on beautiful colors, costumes, and elaborate, themed presentations.  This is pageantry at its finest. (top photo)
3. String Bands focus on a merger of music and costumery into a uniquie kind of band.  You’ll find a variety of strings, glockenspiels, saxophones, accordions and drums, and lots of accompanying dancers.
4. Fancy Brigades focus on performance.  They march in the parade, but are judged during on their intricate dance routines during a later outdoor performance.  (See video below.)

If you’ll miss New Year’s Day in Philadelphia, you can learn a little more about the Mummers at the Mummers Museum (1100 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia).  It looks like one of those quirky museums that never fails to grab my attention.

Image credits:  All from flickr, top Fancy group, costume, clown

________________________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Since I was staying at the Mandalay Bay Resort (where the expo was held), the logical and easy choice was to see Mamma Mia, a theatrical production featuring music by ABBA.

While more of a rocker chick that a disco girl, I nonetheless found this musical immensely engaging and entertaining.  And yes, I found myself humming some of the tunes for the rest of the night.

The plot is a convoluted one, designed for erroneous assumptions and misunderstandings that set up wonderful opportunities for both humor and insight:

Single mom (Donna) raises her daughter on a Greek island, and despite a somewhat idyllic life, daughter (Sophie) focuses on finding out about her absentee and unknown father.  Sophie reads her mother’s diary, written during a summer of sexual indiscretions, and finds that her father could be one of three men.

With her wedding approaching, Sophie sends an invitation to her wedding to all three men, certain that once she meets them she will know who her father is.  When all three men show up in response to the invitation, silliness ensues. 

I won’t reveal who the father really is, or how the wedding turns out, but along the way there’s spandex, platform boots, some great dance moves, and 22 of ABBA’s greatest hits, including Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes it All, Take a Chance on Me, and Knowing Me, Knowing You.

Since this was Vegas, I expected the staging and effects to be over the top, and that was largely the case.  Although the staging is simplistic, the actors use the entire space – and even move out into the audience.

The costuming was great!  And if you lived – and danced – during this era, you probably wore one of these outfits.  Alright, you don’t have to admit it, but I KNOW that some of you still have a pair of those platforms at home in your attic!

The night I attended, the audience was only about half full, and I think that had an impact on the energy of the cast.  Despite many tapping feet and bouncing heads in the seats, the synergy between cast and audience just didn’t take off. 

Still, it was a great evening with great music – and I’m guessing that you, too, will walk away humming one of these classic 80’s tunes.

Mamma Mia closes on Sunday, January 4th, 2009, so you have just a few more weeks to see it.  Show times are Sunday – Thursday, 7:30 pm; Saturday at 6 & 10 pm. (Dark Friday.)  Tickets start at $45.

Image credit:  Courtesy of MGM Mirage Images, photographed by Joan Marcus

______________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe