Susan Granger’s review of “Million Dollar Quartet” (Nederlander Theater 2009-2010 season)
What a clever idea! On Dec. 4, 1956, in Memphis, there was a legendary recording session featuring Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and newcomer-on-the-scene Jerry Lee Lewis. With a book by rock historian Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux and directed by Eric Schaeffer from a fictionalized concept by Mutrux, it revolves around this impromptu afternoon jam session, arranged by Sun Records owner/producer Sam Phillips (Hunter Foster), who ‘discovered’ them all, along with Ray Orbison and others.
Fresh off his sensational appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and signing with RCA Records, Presley (Eddie Clendening) is in town to visit his parents with Dyanne (Elizabeth Stanley), a singer/girlfriend, in tow. Desperately eager for a new hit, Carl Perkins (Robert Britton Lyons) is still miffed that – because of an accident – it was Presley who became famous for the song he wrote called “Blue Suede Shoes.” Having reached the end of his Sun Records contract, Johnny Cash (Lance Guest) drops by, intending to tell Phillips he’s decided to sign with Columbia Records so that he can record more hymns. And aggressive, loquacious Jerry Lee Lewis (Levi Kreis) is just looking to pick up some extra bucks by pounding the piano.
Together, they – along with bassist Corey Kaiser and drummer Larry Lelli – blast through 22 jukebox numbers, including “Brown Eyed Handsome Man,” “Down By the Riverside” and “Peace in the Valley.” Lance Guest’s renditions of “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Sixteen Tons,” “I Walk the Line” and “Riders in the Sky” are sensational, while Levi Kreis nails Lewis’ signature “Great Balls of Fire,” among several other songs. Since the actor/rockers were chosen primarily for their impersonations, their line readings of the occasionally portentous dialogue are barely adequate. Basically, it’s a stroll down rock ‘n’ roll memory lane – and, for that, Derek McLane’s ramshackle set is spare and economical, Jane Greenwood’s costumes are authentic, but the sound could better.