Million Dollar Quartet
My thoughts on Million Dollar Quartet or…Oh, What a Night!
It’s December 4, 1956. Rock and Roll is in its infancy but growing bigger daily. The visionary Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records, now known as the father of Rock and Roll, has arranged for four of his discoveries to meet up at the Sun Records studio for the evening. Those discoveries are Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley. It becomes the jam session to end all jam sessions.
Logan Uhtenwoldt has created a set that looks like it could be a replica of the original studio replete with a sound booth and gold records on the wall. It’s certainly not plush as the place was formerly an auto parts store but it is realistically rendered and one of the best sets I have seen at the Firehouse. Uhtenwoldt even surrounds the proscenium with records that frame the story. Hank Baldree designs the lighting with Michael Marbry providing the sound and Dayna Rae Dutton designing the 50’s era costumes.
Although Million Dollar Quartet is based on an actual event, much dramatic license is taken with the story. There are squabbles between the artists, job decisions that must be made, and contracts that may or may not be renewed. Sam Phillips. played by Preston Isham, serves as the narrator and Isham, as Phillips, often breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience. Isham, a gifted actor, gives Phillips such an avuncular demeanor that it is troubling to learn that many choices he has made for his artists have been self-serving.
But, let’s face it, no one is here for the story. It’s the music these legends produce that makes Million Dollar Quartet an evening of Rock and Roll heaven. And Music Director Bryce Biffle has the cast delivering classic after classic with style and gusto.
There’s an awesome on-stage combo who are characters as well as musicians. Bass player Daniel Davidson is Jay, brother of Carl Perkins and drummer Brian Lindsey is called Fluke.
Carl Perkins, portrayed by Bryson Morlan, is looking for another hit record. He is the writer of “Blue Suede Shoes,” and feels like Elvis, who performed the song on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” has eclipsed him and Perkins wants to regain his career momentum. Morlan, young in years but loaded with talent and stage charisma, is a terrific singer and guitarist. Watch out for this young man.
Ben Meaders is Johnny Cash and what great casting it is. Meaders is the master of the low bass notes and brings Johnny back to life. Johnny, religious and introspective, wants to sing more gospel music which Phillips believes is unprofitable. Meaders, who has the mannerisms of the “Man in Black” down pat, delivers a stirring “Sixteen Tons” and a spot on “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line.”
Joey O’Reilly, in a pull out all the stops, go for broke performance, is a dynamic Jerry Lee Lewis. O’Reilly’s Lewis, whether trading barbs with Carl Perkins or literally tearing up the piano, is a force. His vocals are as strong as his piano playing and that’s saying something. He’s a “Real Wild Child” with a ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On” sending “Great Balls of Fire” all over the audience. I do wish he had taken off that god awful blonde wig that makes him look more like a bad drag attempt at Angie Dickinson than rock and roll royalty and set it aflame with one of those balls of fire. This has to be the best performance ever in the worst wig.
Gideon Ethridge’s name on a cast list will get me to see anything. Here the phenomenally talented Ethridge is Elvis. He’s the young Elvis, pre-Priscilla and pre-carbs. full of life and born to be the King of Rock and Roll. Ethridge has studied the King and his movements and voice both evoke the legend. I closed my eyes once or twice just to listen and marvel at how uncannily close his voice is to the legendary singer. Etheridge captures all of Elvis’s warmth and Southern charm as well as his sensational vocals on “That’s All Right,” “Long Tall Sally.” and “Hound Dog.” Etheridge’s Elvis puts all those Las Vegas impersonators to shame. I was totally in awe.
Elvis has brought his girlfriend Dyanne with him to Sun Records and I at first thought that Dyanne played by Krystal Rodriguez was going to be little more than set dressing. Wrong! Rodriguez gets two big numbers, a sultry, sexy “Fever” and fantastic “I Hear You Knocking.” Rodriguez’s Dyanne more than holds her own with the legends.
Director Owen Beans, assisted by Caitlin Martelle, kicks off Firehouse’s season with a slickly directed and perfectly paced, exhilarating Million Dollar Quartet that is filled with talent and nonstop great music. Get to the Firehouse Theatre before Elvis leaves the building.
Photos by Jason Anderson/Pendleton Photography
