Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman’s Tony, Grammy and Olivier award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys – a gritty retelling of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons’ rise to fame from inauspicious roots in the housing projects of 1950s New Jersey – uplifts, entertains and occasionally shocks upon its return to Cardiff at the Wales Millenium Centre. This is no saccharine-sweet jukebox musical.

With the humble beginnings of the four young men from the wrong side of the tracks vividly recounted in the first half of the show, prepare for moments of violence and plenty of swearing. Prison spells, Mafia shenanigans, marital problems and chronic gambling cast shadows over the quartet as they climb the showbiz ladder, eventually being placed in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Jersey Boys doesn’t gloss over these difficult moments but weaves them into the narrative around the soundtrack – with the most poignant moment coming when Frankie sings Fallen Angel after hearing that his youngest daughter, Francine, has died.

The story of Frankie, Tommy, Nick and Bob is one of friendship, heartache and triumph over adversity – but, above all, fantastic music. The combination of Frankie’s unique nasal falsetto combined with Bob Gaudio’s songwriting genius produced a sound that the world went crazy for; here, a hugely talented cast do justice to their string of 1960s hits. Michael Pickering is outstanding as Frankie, full of energy and Italian humour, and the harmonising of the remaining Seasons is spot on.

The singing from the whole cast is fantastic: favourites including 1962 chart topper Sherry, Rag Doll, Walk Like A Man and Big Girls Don’t Cry to the smoother likes of December, 1963 and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You sound fresh and original. Additionally, The Angels’ My Boyfriend’s Back gives the female cast members a moment to shine and was a real highlight of the show.

With the musical divided into the proverbial four seasons, each member of the original lineup is given the opportunity to tell their part of the story. Everything from the costumes to the ever-changing stage sets reflects the excitement of 1950s and 60s USA and is a treat for the eyes. Those who aren’t diehard fans of the Four Seasons at the start of the musical will leave with a new appreciation of these four Jersey boys who made it big. Oh, what a night indeed!

Jersey Boys, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tue 11 Apr

On until Sat 22 Apr. Tickets: £17.50-£66.50. Info: here

words SARAH EDWARDS