November 2011

Frequent readers of this blog probably know that I'm a huge fan of live theater, especially on Broadway. My earliest recollection was seeing Julie Andrews in The Boyfriend many, many, many years ago. I never miss an opportunity to see a play whenever I'm in New York.

However, my quest to see the smash hit Jersey Boys has taken some odd turns since it opened several years ago.

On my first try, a friend bought and had the tickets, but failed to note an earlier curtain time. Two of us waited and waited outside the theater, then gave up. Of course that was just enough to make me obsessed with getting to see it, so I scheduled another trip to NY, bought tickets and was literally about to walk out the door when the news came that a family member was dying. I headed for the hospital instead. Two strikes!

On my third attempt with yet another friend, I did manage to at least get inside the theater, but I was in the back row with a partially obscured view. Great music, but not exactly prime seating.

Sooo...when I planned to head for New York last week on business, a couple of cousins joined me. One of them, who'd missed that first Jersey Boys showing with me, really wanted to see it. Despite being thoroughly offended by the concept of "premium seating" -- a way for the theater to make the exorbitant amount on prime tickets that scalpers used to make -- I forked out the money for the third row orchestra. At last, in the theater where I could hear AND see!! When those Jersey guys sang my personal teen anthem, Sherry Baby, there's not a doubt in my mind they were singing straight to me. Worth every penny.

If you're of a certain age and the songs of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons bring back memories, be sure to see this show if it comes to your town. It'll have you bouncing in your seat, if not dancing in the aisles. And these days we all need that kind of upbeat feeling -- it's priceless!