From Shields Boy to Jersey Boy

Opinion Big interview A n a ly s i s A ge n d a Denise Rober tson Insight Issues Page 20 KEITH HANN p17 | COMMENT p18 |LETTERS p18&19 Tuesday, June 25, 2013 From Shields boy to Jersey boy After leaving school with one O-level, North Shields-born Ryan Molloy is now a musical star who has just sung with Barbra Streisand and is about to meet Frankie Valli, the icon he’s playing on stage in a record-breaking West End run. But, as he tells BARBARA HODGSON, he hasn’t forgotten his roots and would snap up a chance to work up North S Frankie Valli flies into could say Ryan knows the frontman of London for a gig tonight – 60s sensation The Four Seasons – whose the first of two at the Royal life story is the subject of the musical – A Albert Hall – his alter ego better than most and he’s looking for- will be ready to meet him. ward to catching up with the Ryan Molloy, from North Shields, 79-year-old singer at the concert. performs as the American legend six “We met before, when he came to see times a week on stage in award-win- the show for the first time, but this will ning musical The Jersey Boys and, now be the first time hearing his voice live,” in his sixth year, is awaiting official he says. confirmation that he’s set the record as Valli’s powerful falsetto is something the longest-ever lead in a West End that Ryan, now living in the capital, has s h o w. mastered, winning him an Olivier “We’re checking on it now,” he tells Award nomination. me. “Some people have been in shows He learned it first-hand in Nashville longer, in ensembles and supporting where The Four Seasons’ Bob Gaudio roles, but I’ve done over 2,000 shows “told me all the old stories Continued now as a lead.” and put me through my The figure is actually 212 higher than paces to get that old that, and climbing all the time. So you sound. It’s not just about 16 16 J2 A ge n d a j o u r n a l l i v e . c o. u k Tuesday, June 25, 2013 THE JOURNAL THE JOURNAL Tuesday, June 25, 2013 j o u r n a l l i v e . c o. u k A ge n d a J2 17 Columnist S TAG E SHOW R ya n starring in The Jersey B oy s A journey into hell with a party bag at the end of it AM writing this in a state of like children. This invariably elicited shock unlikely to be the shiny-eyed response, “Ah, but matched unless I witness your own are different!” I my own house burn down, I will now concede that this is or my new car disappear over a true, up to a point. I can just about cliff without my mother-in-law in- bear to take my two out in public side it. together, and I do not glare and tut It all started innocently enough at anything like as much as I used to do 6.30 last Tuesday morning, when my when I find myself next to other son Charlie joined me at the break- people’s noisy brats on a train or in a fast table. I wished him a happy p u b. LEGEND birthday, but he apparently felt no However, I can also report that a Fra n k i e interest in that. room full of four-year-olds is, “Daddy,” he announced, “I need to without doubt, completely unbear- tidy up the conservatory and I need able. Give me a chanting mob of you to help me.” bloodthirsty fanatics any day. I was astonished. Hitherto, After numerous cancellations I Charlie’s commitment to doing the think that only about eight of them reverse of tidying up any room he actually turned up, but it might as enters has been pretty much total. well have been 800. And they were I finally persuaded him to open in my house for less than three his cards and presents instead, but hours, but it seemed more like three then he started banging on about months. the conservatory again. I had been enjoined to put So his mother and I naturally Charlie’s Hornby train set into full asked him the reasons for his sud- working order for their entertain- den conversion. ment and they descended on it like a “So it’s tidy for when all my plague of locusts, snapping signals, friends come round for my party.” ripping off couplings and testing the “But that’s not until Sunday,” we track to literal destruction. pointed out. Worst of all, their own parents just Cue floods of tears. Charlie’s, not beamed indulgently throughout. FACE TO ours. By the time they had sung “Happy FAC E R ya n , The party continued to dominate birthday”, eaten their cake and left, meets conversation for the remainder of sloped off with their party bags, I Frankie Valli last week, during which it grew in was a broken man. I slept for a solid my mind from a vague and distant 12 hours afterwards. warning in the long-range weather I recalled my elderly mother’s forecast to an imminent destructive reaction when a nephew came t o r n a d o. round to show off his new son. She We had decided, foolishly, to op- seemed distracted throughout, and erate on the assumption of decent after my cousin left I asked what had weather and rely on the kids to been on her mind. make their own entertainment run- “All I could think,” she replied, ning around the garden. To assist, I “was that if that child broke laid out an old batterypowered something, I would scream!” ride-on train, kindly donated by a I found that amusing at the time. cousin, which proved no longer to Now I know just how she felt. work. We are supposed to be looking for We also hired a small bouncy a new home nearer Charlie’s first LEADING castle, delivered by a large man in a RO L E school, but I am beginning to Citroen Picasso who insisted on tak- think that we should actually look Ryan Molloy ing his instructions from my wife for two of them, including a nice and referred to me dismissively as little flat in sheltered accommod- “Grandad”. ation for me. Fro m copying but my interpret- It was a Saturday and Ryan just had the Monday and given free tickets as a diet of Barbra Streisand and musicals was all over the place and it’s basically back and going to some schools, meet- While his CV covers other hit musicals moments in my life when I leave at night Usually this not uncommon faux Failing that, perhaps we could run ation of it”. time to arrange for his understudy to thank you for helping out, he was able and she’s supported me all these down to channeling.” ing some kids, doing some talks. I’d such as Jerry Springer: The Opera and and get back to myself. I keep my pas at least secures me an apology to something with a granny an- 15 Ryan knew he’d got it cover for him in Jersey Boys – “When to arrange for his proud 75-year-old years. From primary school in North love to. Godspell, plus support singer for such interests going – my music, my vocal and discount from the trader con- nexe. right when he first met Barbra calls you’ve got to go!” he jokes – mother Winnie to come down from “It was great to get her down and see Shields he attended Marden Bridge “It would be great to give something names as Pussycat Dolls and Frankie training, which I do every night. cerned, though on this occasion Given stout locks, soundproofing the main man and received what he then a quick rehearsal before he found North Tyneside to see it. It was hugely me walk out on stage. Middle School where he discovered back to my community.” Goes to Hollywood, Ryan is under no “It’s really important I remember only the former proved to be forth- and an ample supply of bookshelves, calls the “face touch”. himself on stage at the O2 accom- exciting for them both. “She was sitting there in fantastic drama. It was in South Gosforth that Ryan had illusions. where I’m coming from and keep my coming. that might just about do for “He touched my face in the Italian panying the star, her son and sister in “I was raised by my mother on a strict seats – a couple of chairs away from “I felt good about myself, full of his first vocal training, which stood him Now 40, he says: “In this industry you feet on the ground.” When my contemporaries started “Grandad” until the men in white way – a bit like a Mafia seal of approval! singing Make Our Garden Grow from Adele and behind was Gwyneth enthusiasm. But when I got to high in good stead during periods when he get lost a lot. Nothing is an overnight With that in mind, Ryan would wel- breeding 30 or more years ago I coats come to take me away once My brother got a great photo.” Candide, backed by an orchestra and Paltrow.

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