[NEohioPAL] Berko review: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET @ Ohio Theatre/PlayouseSquare

[Roy Berko via NEohioPAL]

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*“Million Dollar Quartet” rocks the Ohio Theatre….”Great Balls of Fire!”*



Roy Berko



(Member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle



Part concert, part history lesson, and a lot of rock ‘n roll-- that’s
“Million Dollar Quartet”, now on stage at the Ohio Theatre in
PlayhouseSquare.



The second largest entertainment center in the United States is playing
host to

Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.  Well, in
reality, four performers portraying those icons of rock and roll, in a
stage show that attempts to duplicate the one time that the four actually
did get together for an informal rock session.



In October of 2011, “Million Dollar Quartet” began it’s long running trip
around the country here, where Presley and Lewis were among our Rock ‘n’
Roll Hall of Fame’s charter inductees, and were soon joined by Perkins and
Cash.



It’s December 4, 195.  Four emerging music icons, all of whom were good old
Southern boys, identified and molded by Sam Phillips, were in his Memphis
Sun Studios.  They ad-libbed an evening of gospel, blues and rock ‘n roll
music.  The event was chronicled by a reporter from the “Memphis
Press-Scimitar.”  The next day the article discussing the event stated,
“This quartet could sell a million.”  Little did the reporter realize that
though that number sounded like a lot, this quartet would go on to sell
many, many millions, and become individual musical icons.



Whether the actions happened exactly as portrayed is not known, but the
fact that there was such a jam session is a reality.  A recording of the
session, and a picture of the four, documented the event and became the
basis for the musical with a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux.



The touring production, under the direction of Eric Schaeffer, is basically
on target.  The production is generally enveloping and filled with humor
(mainly provided by John Countryman who portrays Jerry Lee Lewis) and a
little drama.  And, of course, there is a “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”



The stage literally explodes with hit after hit, including “Blue Suede
Shoes,” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” and “I Walk the Line.”  Then,
there was a curtain call which features the likes of “Hound Dog,” “Riders
in the Sky,” and “See You Later Alligator.”



This is a hard show to cast.  The performers need to look like, sound like,
and play musical instruments with perfection.  The original assemblage
fulfilled these requirements.  This cast doesn’t quite do so.



Tyler K. Hunter is much heftier than the Elvis we knew at the early stages
of his career, and though he sounds a lot like the king, and has the hip
swivels and the pelvis thrusts, he’s missing the famous heavy eye-lidded
stare and Elvis’s sensual attitude.  The last line heard from the stage at
the conclusion of the production was, “And Elvis has left the building.”  In
actuality, Tyler K. Hunter left the building.



The crowd-pleasing John Countryman, though he doesn’t look anything like
Jerry Lee Lewis, portrayed the undisciplined, uber-talented pianist and
singer, with dynamism.  He is electric on stage, hardly able to contain the
character’s twitching, jumping, ADHD persona.



Dressed in Johnny Cash’s signature black uniform, Scott Moreau’s deep and
mellow voice and handsome dark features, helps create a nice
characterization.



The alcoholic and conflicted Carl Perkins, known as the King of
Rock-a-billie, was on a rocket shot to fame until he was eclipsed by
Presley, including having the Perkins-written “Blue Suede Shoes,” sung by
the King on the Ed Sullivan show when Perkins became ill and couldn’t
perform.  James Barry physically and vocally brings Perkins alive.



Vince Nappo gives a human portrayal of Sam Phillips, Stephanie Lynne Mason
is fine as Presley’s girl friend of the moment.  Corey Kaiser is
tantalizing as bass player, Jay Perkins, Carl’s brother.  He plays a mean
bass!  David Sonneborn is great on the drums.



*Capsule judgement: Though it doesn’t have the fidelity of the original
staging of “Million Dollar Quartet”, if you are a rock and roll fan, you
will enjoy the production now at the Ohio.  It is a  fun and enlightening
evening of theatre filled with great music and some excellent
performances.  Yes, “Memories Are Made of This!”*



“Million Dollar Quartet” plays the Palace through July 27, 2014.  For
tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to *www.playhousesquare.org
<http://www.playhousesquare.org>*.



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