Oh, what a night! — or rather afternoon, since this is when I saw The Jersey Boys at a Sunday matinee at which was celebrated this marvellous musical’s 1,000th performance.

A big hit already then? Yes, and deservedly so.

This is not a show in the Mamma Mia! mode, which recycles an impressive back catalogue of songs into a story with absolutely no link with the musicians.

Instead we are offered, as in Buddy — perhaps its only rival, in my view — a compelling account of the creative impulses that resulted in the hits. In short, the story of the band.

The group in question are The Four Seasons — never, it has to be said, trendy or the inspiration of a cult. Rather, in the words of their great songwriting talent, the keyboardist Bob Gaudio: “Our fans were the guys who were flipping burgers and pumping gas, and the girls behind the counter at the diner, real blue-collar workers.”

As portrayed by Stephen Ashfield, Gaudio emerges as the chief creative strength of the band, responsible with lyricist Bob Crewe (Simon Adkins) for a series of great songs that have stood the test of time. These included Rag Doll, Let’s Hang On, Walk Like a Man, Who Loves You? and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, all of which are impeccably performed here.

Crucial to the winning sound, of course, was the astonishing voice, complete with powerful soaring falsetto, of lead singer Frankie Valli. Anyone convinced that “no one sounds like Valli” had better head for the Prince Edward Theatre and allow the brilliant Ryan Molloy to disabuse them of the theory.

My one complaint about this well-written (book Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice) and slickly directed (Des McAnuff) show is that we never get to hear the songs in their entirety, as we remember them. But I guess we can always stay at home and play the records for that. Not so much fun!

Box office: telephone 0844 482 5152 —www.JerseyBoysLondon.com.