Broadway has nothing on 'Jersey Boys' national tour at the Fox

The Broadway ensemble I saw recently has nothing on the national tour ensconced at the Fox Theatre through June 21. Directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, "Jersey Boys" is a virtually seamless musical entertainment that transcends generational appeal to tell a good story.

From the Four Lovers to the Royal Teens to the Four Seasons, the original quartet of Nick Massi (Steve Gouveia), Tommy DeVito (Matt Bailey), Bob Gaudio (Josh Franklin) and angel-voiced front man Valli (Joseph Leo Bwarie) weathered self-destruction and flameout to rack up a stunning lineup of Top 40 hits, all on display in book writer Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice's telling: "Oh, What a Night," "Walk Like a Man," "Rag Doll," "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Who Loves You?" and so on.

Gaudio composed the tunes. DeVito indulged his bad habits and functioned as all-around jerk. Massi was the less glamorous but solid sideman. And Valli, loyal and compassionate to a fault, insisted on the notion of the group's indivisibility. He paid a price for it, too. Though each member is portrayed as a fully nuanced character, Valli's flawed personal life is what drives the narrative down its heart-rending path.

Franklin nicely captures the warmth and charisma of Gaudio. Bailey is perfect as the good-looking but vile DeVito. And just when you think Massi has been rendered pretty much invisible, Gouveia (a member of the original Broadway cast) comes around to give him his say.

As Bob Crewe, the group's swishy producer, lyricist and deal-maker, Jonathan Hadley is fun to watch. Courter Simmons' Joe Pesci ("yes, that Joe Pesci") is a comedic bundle of nasality and nervousness. But the real find here is Bwarie, who proves himself a top-notch vocalist, agile dancer and superb actor. Charting the highs and lows of this ultimate survivor, Bwarie is terrific.

Jess Goldstein's costumes are true to the period's flashy, show-biz style, and scenic designer Klara Zieglerova's towering chain-link fence opens and closes to reveal the clubs, churches, brothels, recording studios and police stations that serve like tour stops on an endless gig.

For all their demons, Frankie Valli and his Four Seasons captured the promise of youth and romance with their own brand of between-the-wars musical escapism. Whatever you think of their falsetto croons and dewy mannerisms, it is almost impossible to give "Jersey Boys" anything but love.