Celebrity Face-Off: Frankie Valli vs Jersey Boys

I can't believe I never thought of this and it doesn't look like anyone else has either.

So when I saw on one page of the weekend paper that  the Jersey Boys were in town and that Frankie Valli tickets were going on sale, well it all clicked.

Let's get it on.

Okay, to be fair, I am making some assumptions that aren't really true.  For starters, although I am clearly cheering for Frankie (He's the real thing.), I am not really a 4 Seasons fan, and as 'Oldies' stalwarts, they are last on my list when listing preferences.)  I wonder how many people if asked would want to see The Jersey Boys and have no interest in seeing Valli.  Maybe, it's less than I think, but  there's clearly more buzz about Boys. 

I also give some credit to the marketing behind Jersey Boys which on paper seems like the one musical that husbands and boyfriends wouldn't mind seeing.  I am told that's inaccurate, if you're expecting Mean Streets, you're going to get West Side Story.  If you're expecting the Gaslight Anthem, you're going to get 'Anthony's Song", but not even Billy Joel's FM work.  This is "Sherry, baby".

Also, though i feel if people really like Jersey Boys, they owe it to themselves to see the actual guy himself, I do realize Valli cashes a paycheck each time the curtain opens on the musical.

Anyway here goes.

     vs 

Venue  Both Valli and Jersey Boys played the same venue- the 2700 seat Performing Arts Center.

Ticket Prices Jersey Boys starts at $25 up to $125 - Valli tickets range from $50-140

Dates Jersey Boys has eight performances over 6 days. Valli has one night

Running Time  Jersey Boys - 2 hours 30 mins.  Frankie Valli 2 hours

Audience Restrictions Jersey Boys does warn of mature content and asks guests be age 14 or older.  valli is all ages

Songs Jersey boys advertises "Sherry," "Big Girls Don’t Cry," "Rag Doll," "Oh What a Night" and "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You."   Valli's ad lists “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”

Buzz- Ear to the ground, I hear people tlaking about Jersey Boys, nothing about Valli.  It doesn't mean no ones going to Frankie, but it's  bad sign.  I can't find anything on Jersey Boys ticket sales, but i do know Valli still had tickets on sale the night before.


Review- It's hard to find similar reviews.  Jersey Boys routinely gets 9 out of 10 stars, but it of course takes into account shows across the country.  I found one site that gave Frankie Valli 9 stars out of 10.  The closest I could get to a "Jersey Boys Civic Center Des Moines" page, it had 5 stars out of 10.  Of course as an internet disclaimer, both sites had three anonymous reviewers and the Jersey Boys page gave no details at all.  That said a couple of local sites reviewed Jersey Boys (It ended to a standing o, according to the local newspaper), I could not find any site that was interested in Valli after the fact, only hyping him before. I have seen scattered across the web that even in his 70s, Valli has a strong performance, and elicits 4 and 5 star reviews from the people who matter- his fans.

Verdict  I declare the winner Frankie.  He doesn't have the buzz or the publicity.  Still, the good news is that he can command a bit more for tickets, and I guess that has how you determine the real winner.