Jersey Boys – Bradford Alhambra I knew Jersey Boys was one of the biggest West End hits of recent years, but had little idea what to expect of this show about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

A bio-musical like Buddy, with Frankie’s life story punctuated by his songs, or a glorified concert like the Blues Brothers?

Mostly the former, but with a lot more depth than the jaunty tale of Buddy Holly, and with an imaginative presentation that makes it gripping theatre.

While there are some stunning concert performances of classic Four Seasons songs, many other songs are cut short, or interrupted by dialogue, if that’s the best way to help tell the story.

The story of four guys who dominated the charts of the 60s is told direct-to-audience by each of the singers in turn, with their different takes on the same events.

Even without this inspired approach the story would be compulsive: these apparently clean-cut All Americans came out of a violent neighbourhood and were in hock to the Mafia for most of their careers.

The songs are wonderful, whether you grew up with them or not, and this gritty, funny, lively, razor-sharp show is equally as wonderful.

*Until Saturday. Visit bradford-theatres.co.uk or call 01274 432000.

David Knights