Theater Review - 'The Million Dollar Quartet'

The Gateway Has a “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”

On December 4, 1956, a twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records’ modest storefront studio in Memphis, Tennessee, for an impromptu jam session.  What came out of that serendipitous encounter was a mind-blowing recording dubbed The Million Dollar Quartet. Sam Phillips, the undisputed “Father of Rock’ n’ Roll,” launched the careers of each of these musical icons and was instrumental in getting these four legendary performers together for this once-in-a-lifetime event known as the “Mount Rushmore of Rock’ n’ Roll.”

Million Dollar Quartet, an award-winning jukebox musical written by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, brings that historical moment to life.  In many ways, this show is a tribute to the creative genius of Sam Phillips, who discovered and nurtured these four exceptional performers and many others. The show takes place in one day, giving this musical a certain intimacy that makes you feel like you were there watching the event unfold. 

The plot itself is a bit on the flimsy side, consisting of a lot of bantering among the boys, revealing their insecurities, petty rivalries, and ego-driven ambitions. However, the rapid-fire energy of the musicians, combined with their strong vocals, and the songbook which includes the chart-toppers “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hound Dog,” “Who Do You Love,” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” and “Matchbox,” all come together to create a fantastic night of theatre.

The very talented Sean Casey Flanagan gave a strong performance as Sam Phillips.  Mr. Flanagan’s high voltage rocking out during the finale song, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” revealed Sam Phillips’s instinctual sense of rhythm and his undying passion and appreciation for the music he helped create.

As the King of Rock’ n’ Roll, Jacob Barton’s gyrating hip movements, expert guitar playing, and impressive singing made the audience feel that Elvis was indeed alive and well and strutting his stuff in Bellport.

Steven Lasiter was believable as Johnny Cash, and his soulful renditions of “Ghost Riders” and “Down by the Riverside” were two of the show’s high points.

Trevor Dorner as Jerry Lee Lewis blew the audience away with his exceptional piano-playing and high-energy performance of “Great Balls of Fire.” Mr. Dorner had some of the funniest lines in the show, and he delivered them with perfect timing. His physical comedy bits, including pounding the keyboard with his foot, raking his hands up and down the keyboard, and standing on top of the piano, received some of the biggest laughs of the evening.  

Nathan Burke gave a nuanced performance as Carl Perkins, a talented performer with a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder.  Mr. Burke rocked the house as he belted out, “See You Later Alligator.” Justin Bendel portrayed the bassist, Jay Perkins, Carl’s older brother.  He delighted the audience with his incredible musical talents and performed some entertaining tricks with his bass, including flipping the instrument and playing it while lying down!  

Mike Lucchetti, as Fluke, proved himself to be a most accomplished drummer, one who never missed a beat. 

Taylor Kraft as Dyanne, the girlfriend who accompanies Elvis to the recording studio, lit up the stage with her charismatic presence and gave a showstopping performance with her sultry rendition of “Fever.”

The show is directed with expert precision by Tim Seib and produced by Gershwin Entertainment. Kirk Bookman’s lighting design, Adam Koch and Steven Royal’s set design, and Jeffrey Meek’s costume design all added to the overall success of this show.

Music is a time machine, and this energetic musical will transport you back to the early days of Rock’ n’ Roll.  This show captured the essence of the spontaneity, fun, and uninhibited exuberance that characterized this musical genre.  

The US National Tour Million Dollar Quartet runs from now until Saturday, August 21. Tickets start at $49. Teen and youth prices are available for select shows. For more information, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133, or visit the website at TheGateway.org. 

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatist Guilds. She is the author of two self-help books, Grant Me a Higher Love and Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships.