It sounds like foolproof musical theater: recreate a too-good-to-be-true-but-it-is real-life event, the day in December 1956 that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis found themselves in a spontaneous jam session at tiny Sun Studios in Memphis, a session that a reporter dubbed the “Million Dollar Quartet.” But while the source material is cultural gold, the challenge is in the casting, and here the producers have done an outstanding job. Not only do Eddie Clendening, Levi Kreis, Lance Guest and Robert Lyons sound like, respectively, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Johnny and Carl, but the physical impersonations in both appearance and mannerisms are quite strong. Kreis’ Lewis is especially crowd-pleasing in his insane antics behind, and all over, the keys. While the show functions largely as a concert that audiences never saw (though heard, when the recording Sam Phillips made of the session was finally released decades later), the book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux adds context and drama quite nicely as they compress a couple of years of Sun history into one day. You can’t help but get caught up in the relative innocence combined with euphoric optimism that these artists were creating something new, here at the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. Don’t expect a greatest-hits parade, though. Although some familiar songs were covered that day, much of the pleasure they (and by extension, we) shared was in exploring the gospel, blues and R&B tunes they shaped their new sound around. My only quibble was a few crackles in the microphones, just like in the fifties. (Brian Hieggelke)
“Million Dollar Quartet” plays at the Goodman Theatre, 170 North Dearborn, (312) 443-3800, through October 26 and then moves to the Apollo Theatre, 2540 North Lincoln, (773) 935-6100, on October 31 through January 4. May 29, 2011. December 31, 2011. September 2, 2012. January 6, April 28, 2013. (Half-Priced Tickets)
Right Is Right: A Review of "Big River" at Mercury Theater "Big River" is a musical based on Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, with songs by Roger Miller. Mercury Theater’s production is crisply moving, superbly sung and highly entertaining.
