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Steve Parks

Elvis left the building for good in 1977, Carl Perkins in 1998 and Johnny Cash in 2003. Among the “Million Dollar Quartet,” only Jerry Lee Lewis, 82, survives.

The promising premise of the 2010 Broadway musical, making its Long Island debut at Gateway Playhouse, is to make the audience a time-traveling fly on the wall for the legendary Dec. 4, 1956, jam session at Sun Records in Memphis, where producer Sam Phillips discovered — and lost — four rock-and-roll pioneers.

For one night only, the Kings of Rock, Rockabilly and Country Crossover gathered for an impromptu reunion, joined by an upstart who’d become rock’s first bona fide wild man. That’s as good an excuse as any for a jukebox musical. Forget what they actually played.

Perkins, strummed by James Barry with a fierce guitar-pickin’ chip on his shoulder, brings his smokin’ backup players along for a recording of his long-awaited follow-up to “Blue Suede Shoes,” which Elvis had since appropriated. To round out the session, Phillips invited a pianist he just signed. That would be Jerry Lee (“Great Balls of Fire”) Lewis, played with impudent dexterity by Dominique Scott, doubling as the show’s music director. As Phillips, Jason Loughlin acquits his necessary annotative role — many in the audience never shared the planet with Elvis — with sympathetic aplomb. We feel for him and the troubled stars he nurtured.

The most recognizable figures (though Scott’s Jerry Lee is hard to miss, clamoring atop the upright to pound its keyboard behind his back) are Chris Damiano (Cash) and Ari McKay Wilford (Presley). In a way, theirs are the easiest portrayals, in that Perkins was a far less visible icon.

But what makes “Million Dollar Quartet” more authentic than, say, “Jersey Boys” is that musicianship trumps superficial impersonations. Sure, as directed by Hunter Foster, who played Sam Phillips on Broadway, Wilford can swivel his hips and pout like the young Elvis some of us remember. But he also plays bad-boy rock on “Hound Dog” or choirboy gospel on “Peace in the Valley.” Damiano’s Cash growls as low as Johnny ever did on “Sixteen Tons.” Bligh Voth as Elvis’ then-current squeeze adds heat to a window-dressing role, torching “Fever.”

Derek McLane’s “Million Dollar” set, with all its acoustic accoutrements, resembles a barless (except for beer and scotch) padded cell. And the sound that emanates from the stage takes you back to when rock and roll was born.

 

The Long Island Advance

Linda Leuzzi

 

In “Million Dollar Quartet,” currently playing at The Gateway, Sun Records producer Sam Phillips (Jason Loughlin) saunters on stage recalling an electrifying gathering he recorded at his Memphis studio on December 4, 1956 when Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, all men he helped make into larger than life performers, showed up.

A true story, these men made transformative music and in that spirit this show mesmerizes the audience within the first five minutes, launching into “Blue Suede Shoes,” then “Real Wild Child” with Lewis, brilliantly portrayed by Dominique Scott, who pounds the keys with ferocious joyfulness, christening the musical on a high note that soars and stays put.

Lewis, Perkins, Presley and Cash were icons of their time, but the skill of the production, besides the outstanding songs, are some of the back stories. Lewis was known for his ego and Scott’s portrayal of his over-the-top confidence is hilarious. He’ll plunk a chord for emphasis, wrap his leg atop the keyboard, even use his fanny to play notes. But his personna grates on Perkins, (a simmering James Barry), who was a rockabilly pioneer, accomplished guitarist and composer. “Blue Suede Shoes” was Perkins’ creation, but Presley got to sing it first, forever joining his name to the monster hit, thus dimming Perkins’ star. Barry, astounding on guitar, gets that disappointment across.

Chris Damiano’s embodiment of Johnny Cash’s look, sound and gravitas is startling. He hits Cash’s smooth, low notes and “Folsum Prison Blues” in particular is a rouser. (Cash would later make prison reform a main cause.) Damiano hails from Georgia, has Christian leanings himself as Cash did, and was heading back to his home state after Gateway to star in Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s “Almost Heaven, John Denver’s America.” He watched YouTube videos of the man in black to get it right and played Cash in Chicago’s “Million Dollar Quartet.” Ari McKay Wilford characterizes Elvis Presley with the right moves, sneer and voice. Presley had just come off his first stint in Las Vegas with comedian Shecky Greene. “I’ll never play Vegas again,” he says, while the audiences hoots. Bligh Voth as Presley’s sexy, smart girlfriend Dyanne sings the Peggy Lee anthem “Fever,” with her own erotic take as she keeps the session fun and civil. The amazing duo in the back, David Sonneborn as Fluke, the drummer, and Sam Weber as Brother Jay, who plays bass, are essential musical bonuses to the quartet.

Loughlin as Phillips doesn’t get to sing. But he does get to tell a great story and his grace when the stars that he helped launch want to go on to other companies is touching. He recently starred in the Broadway production of “The Audience” with Helen Mirren.

The sets are 50’s sound studio perfect and there’s plenty of fun interaction off stage. Not hard to understand; there are 24 hit songs the cast have a blast with that the audience embraced. You have to June 25 to catch the show.

 

Dan's Papers

Genevieve Horsburgh

 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to jam with rock legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis? Well, wonder no more! Million Dollar Quartet, the second show of The Gateway Playhouse’s 2016 season, relives the night these four musical legends came together by chance and had the most epic jam session of all time.

December 4, 1956, Sun Records, Memphis, Tennessee: Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis are set to record new material under the guidance of Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Records and, for the purposes of the theatrical production, the musical’s narrator. Phillips (Jason Loughlin) is the man responsible for discovering all four of the musicians, and throughout the show we learn how he met each one.

It’s not an easy thing to portray such well-known and loved performers, but each of the actors does an outstanding job bringing the legends to the stage, from their mannerisms to their musical talent. The songs have a life of their own and, hearing music that’s universally adored no matter your generation, it’s easy to get swept away and pretend the actual singers are a few feet away from you on stage.

Elvis Presley is arguably the most difficult star to impersonate because of his wild popularity, but Ari McKay Wilford has all the right moves. He plays a young Elvis in the prime of his life, full of charisma, energy, with southern charm and a rock and roll edge that captivated 1950s America. You’ll groove along with fan favorites “That’s All Right” and “Hound Dog.” This particular night, Elvis has a girl on his arm, Dyanne (Bligh Voth), who sings sultry tunes like “Fever” and “I Hear You Knockin.’”

Did you know Carl Perkins originally recorded “Blue Suede Shoes”? Carl (James Barry) certainly makes sure Elvis knows he isn’t pleased about Elvis’ success with the song. Barry is on point, right down to Perkins’ signature moves and his stage presence, full of life and energy and a deep love for all things rock n’ roll. You’ll bop along with him as he performs “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Who Do You Love” and “See You Later Alligator.”

Jerry Lee Lewis (Dominic Scott), the newcomer in a room full of seasoned, famous performers, has recently been picked up by Sun Records. His heart is big and he loves to play music—already he’s becoming the wild child of rock n’ roll. Scott is hilarious perfection in the role of Lewis, and picks out a mean tune on the piano. You can’t help but fall for Scott’s undeniable spirit and spunk when he belts out hits like “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”

Chris Damiano, in the role of brooding baritone Johnny Cash, is completely believable. He sings nostalgic tunes like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line,” and has the audience singing along, too. In the musical, Cash comes to Sun Records that night to break the news to Phillips that he’s signed with Columbia Records. There are a few tense moments as Phillips processes what Cash has said and does his best to regroup.

In real life, Phillips recorded the entire session with the four musicians. In a newspaper article published about it, Johnny, Carl, Jerry and Elvis were dubbed the “Million Dollar Quartet.” At the end of the musical performance, an audio clip of the session is played while the famous picture of the four men at the piano is projected onto the stage. The audience is left with a feeling of reverence for each of these legends of rock n’ roll, rockabilly and country and western. Even if, by some chance, you’re unfamiliar with the songs, the power of the music is strong and captivating, as are the actors performing and playing their hearts out on stage.

 

NY Theatre Guide

Kristen Weyer

On December 4th, 1956, four legendary musicians had an impromptu jam session at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. It would mark the only time in history that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis ever played together. This evening inspired the musical Million Dollar Quartet, with a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Now playing at The Gateway Playhouse, this production is directed by Hunter Foster, who starred in the original Broadway cast.

While the majority of this show is obviously musical numbers, Million Dollar Quartet does contain an overarching plotline, the decision over the fate of Sun Records. The show is narrated by music producer, and Sun Records owner, Sam Phillips. Sam address the audience throughout the production describing the events of, and leading up to, that evening. RCA Records wants to buy Sun Records and have Sam come work for them. As Sam struggles to decide what to do, he introduces us to the four icons, giving backgrounds and history, all the while affording us an insider’s view to the events of that night.

This fantastic performance boasts wonderful talent from the entire cast. One can only imagine the trepidation that must exist from being expected to portray such iconic musicians. If these incredible actors felt any such nervousness however, it most certainly did not show. Director Hunter Foster stated, in an interview with Rachel Colson, that: “I’ve asked them not to do imitations, necessarily, but (to embody) the essence of these men.” The actors have taken this to heart. In this performance, you will not be subjected to painful and over-the-top impersonations. They portray these men with an ease and grace that is easy to believe. Don’t worry though, Elvis still says “Thank you very much.”

Carl Perkins is played by James Barry with subtle facial expressions, characteristic dance moves, and a gentle country twang. Johnny Cash is portrayed by Chris Damiano whose steady manner, and incredible deep voice fit perfectly. Jerry Lee Lewis’ crazy antics, and piano playing are performed with never ceasing energy by Dominique Scott. Elvis Presley’s unique cadence, signature lip curl and great voice, are done complete justice by Ari McKay Wilford. Not only do these four men perform well as their given characters, but their own musical talent is simply wonderful.

The other characters in this show are not to be overlooked. Jason Loughlin plays Sam Phillips with steadfastness and believable emotion. Elvis’ girlfriend, Dyanne, is portrayed by Bligh Voth whose rich, sultry voice we have the pleasure of hearing on more than one occasion. Playing “back-up” for the four stars are Carl Perkins’ brother, Jay, on bass, and Fluke on the drums. Brother Jay is portrayed by the talented Sam Weber, while Fluke is played with prowess by David Sonneborn.

The recording studio set by designer Derek McLane is perfectly situated for this performance. It is detailed enough to be interesting, but is not so busy as to detract from the action. Clever costume design by Molly Walls is true to the time period and the artists.

With superb music, and great acting, Million Dollar Quartet is a wonderful evening of theater for the whole family. Whether a blast from the past, for those who remember seeing these icons in person, or a fabulous introduction for new generations, this show holds something for everyone.