Review: Electric MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Thrills at the Warner Theatre

A jukebox musical like MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET usually indicates an enjoyable time for the audience, especially if they are familiar with the characters and music being highlighted. So, not being very familiar with the rock n' roll era beyond Elvis Presley songs, I did a little research before watching the show. Although I still may not know every single word to "Blue Suede Shoes" (which was actually Carl Perkins' song before Elvis Presley made it famous on the Ed Sullivan Show, as the show points out), MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET still guides you on a musical journey through the extraordinary lives of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.

When the show opens at Sun Records, you get the sense that time has stopped and everything that is recorded there leaves behind a sense of magic, which is why I loved that the whole show took place mostly in the studio and ended there. That magic was most evident when all four singers would sing together, especially when they sang "Down By The Riverside" and "Peace in the Valley." Matthew Scott, who played the narrator and owner of Sun Records Sam Phillips, portrayed this feeling beautifully throughout the show. He highlighted the almost father-son relationship with each of the singers, proudly celebrating their successes (since he essentially created their music careers), but also heartbreakingly wishing they had had more happiness in their lives.

These serious moments were offset by comedic moments from the singers, especially from Carl Perkins (Snake Osburn) and Elvis Presley (Skip Robinson). Osburn's portrayal of Perkins had me rooting for him as the tough underdog through his humorous one-liners, especially while standing up to Presley throughout the show. He truly shone at the end of the show with his rendition of "See You Later Alligator," proving that Perkins is not a legend to forget. Robinson embodied the essence of the King quite nicely, hair and dance moves included. His portrayal of Elvis was the most convincing at the end of the show, rocking out with all his might to "Hound Dog." I was definitely rocking along with him.

Accompanying Presley into the recording was his then girlfriend Dyanne, played by Jackey Good. Good's portrayal of Dyanne was a true complement to the quartet, adding a touch of softness to the rock n' roll scene, but also a great deal of feistiness. Her sublime rendition of "I Hear You Knockin' " blew me away unexpectedly, showing that she was most certainly not a fly on the wall at the jam session.

I had some mixed feelings about Justin Drogemueller's portrayal of Johnny Cash. I was hoping for a little bit of the "bad boy/outlaw/rebel" persona that Cash was so well known for in this period, but that did not come across at all. What Drogemueller did portray, however, especially in "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line," was a more heartfelt and humanized Cash, which I felt the audience needed to see as well. His vulnerability showed that Cash was actually a good man underneath the visage of the drugs and alcohol that was a great part of his life.

The best part of the whole show, however, was Jerry Lee Lewis (Jason Cohen). I could not keep my eyes off of him the whole time. His energy was contagiously explosive and he was a charming ball of fire throughout the whole show, which was well suited for his song "Great Balls of Fire" and his lively piano playing. He definitely caught my attention in his efforts to catch Phillips' attention and get Phillips to sign him to Sun Records. Even the band, consisting of drummer Fluke (Jon Rossi) and bass player Jay Perkins (Jody Alan Lee), would match his energy through their incredibly talented musical skills, creating a dynamic that is rarely seen. Although he was the last one to sing at the end of the show, he kept me on my feet clapping along until the very end of his song "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."

While I probably would have preferred to see it with someone like my father or mother, who are very familiar with this type of music and era, I still enjoyed myself tremendously and gained a new appreciation for the legends that made this genre of music flourish.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET played the Warner Theatre on April 3rd. For information on upcoming events at the Warner Theatre, visit their website.

Photo Credit: Jessica Redden