THE original Four Seasons stood on stage in 1990 - for the first time in 20 years - being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the best line in this show was uttered (to paraphrase): "The Oscars and Emmys mean nothing, they can be bought, this is decided by the people".

These four New Jersey boys were a band of the people for the people; their lyrics sung and tunes whistled in the street by construction workers, hairdressers, truck driver and assorted blue collar types.

Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli were the Four Seasons and brought up on the mean streets of Newark, New Jersey.

Behind the glitz of their smooth 1960s television appearances and suave stage act was a dramatic rise and fall that involved criminality, imprisonment, the mob, sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, death and, intimately, incredible loyalty.

The real drama of this band could have been a gritty, riveting and exhilarating experience instead commerciality comes first and any edge is smoothed over by schmaltz so as to appeal to those coming to see a musical tribute act rather than anything of theatrical substance.

Having said that, there are a lot more reasons to like this show than not, with faultless performances all round.

Driven by Tommy DeVito (Simon Bailey) and musical arranger Nick Massi (Lewis Griffiths), the first half hour is about the early days. It's not until songwriter Bob Gaudio (Declan Egan) joins the band and Frankie Valley (Michael Watson) discovers his three-octave voice range and falsetto reach with "Sherry" that the show really kicks off and the audience responds.

This was 14 songs in.

After Sherry, their first number one in 1962, we get their next classics Big Girls Don't Cry, the 1963 number one Walk Like a Man and then jump to 1975 hit December 1963 (Oh What a Night).

The second half deals with the fall of the original band from 1965. Behind the success and financial excesses lurked debts and the inevitable unpaid tax bills. The original band broke up and incredibly Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio took on the $1m debt by writing songs and performing anywhere and everywhere.

Can't Take My Eyes Off You paved the way for a string of 1970s Frankie Valli hits with his hired backing band The Four Seasons.

If this music can still move an audience and pump the adrenaline, just imagine what it must have done for teenagers back in the day when Valli's voice was heard for the first time.

Until Saturday, August 11. Tickets from £18.00 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Ed Waugh