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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET….<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">great
balls of fire</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Roy Berko<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman"">Member, American Theatre Critics Association<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">LORAIN COUNTY
TIMES--WESTLAKER TIMES--LAKEWOOD NEWS TIMES--OLMSTED-FAIRVIEW TIMES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">--COOLCLEVELAND.COM—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Palatino;mso-fareast-font-family:
"Times New Roman""><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Part concert, part history lesson, a lot of rock ‘n
roll, and a heck of good time-- that’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, now on stage at the Palace Theatre in
PlayhouseSquare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The second largest entertainment center in the
United States is playing host to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and
Johnny Cash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, 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.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The event took place
in the recording studios of the legendary Sun Records on December 4, 1956. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">To make the whole experience of even greater
importance, this production in the Rock and Roll capital, is the first venue
for the touring version of the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Yes, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’s trip around the country is being launched
right here!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It’s fifty-five years ago, four emerging music
icons, all of whom were good old Southern boys, identified and molded by Sam
Phillips, were in his Memphis Sun Studios.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>They ad-libbed an evening of gospel, blues and rock ‘n roll
music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The event was chronicled by
a reporter from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Memphis
Press-Scimitar</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The next day
the article discussing the event stated, “This quartet could sell a
million.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Little did the reporter
realize that though that number sounded like a lot, this quartet would go on to
sell many millions, and become individual musical icons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Whether the actions happened exactly as portrayed
is not known, but the fact that there was such a jam session is a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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, and musical arrangements by Chuck
Mead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The production team was at Thursday’s press opening
and was introduced by Gina Vernecci, PlayhouseSquares’ Vice President of
Theatricals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It is only right that the production started its
journey here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Presley and Lewis
were among our Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame’s charter inductees, and were soon
joined by Perkins and Cash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The touring production, under the direction of Eric
Schaeffer, who I worked with at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia (a
suburb of DC), is right on target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>He knows how to stage and inspire a cast.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>The production is exciting, enveloping, filled with
well-timed humor and a little drama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>And, of course, there is a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Whole
Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The stage literally explodes with hit after hit,
including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Blue Suede Shoes</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">That’s All Right</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Sixteen Tons</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">I Walk the Line</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Great Balls of Fire</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Party</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Then, there was a curtain call which features the likes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hound Dog</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Riders in the Sky</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">See
You Later Alligator</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The cast is outstanding.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>The quartet not only sings well, but plays their own
instruments, and acts with realism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Cody Slaughter not only eerily looks like Elvis,
but has the snarl, the hip swivels, the pelvis thrusts and the famous heavy
eye-lidded stare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A true son of
the south, Slaughter was named “Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis
Tribute Artist of 2011.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Appropriately, the last line heard from the stage at the conclusion of
the production was, “And Elvis has left the building.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Martin Kaye makes for the perfect undisciplined,
dynamic, uber-talented pianist and singer, Jerry Lee Lewis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is electric on stage, hardly able to
contain the character’s twitching, jumping, ADHD persona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Derek Keeling has the perfect Johnny Cash voice and
sultry looks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Dressed in Cash’s
signature black uniform, his deep voice, and smoldering personal underbelly,
makes for a complete characterization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Lee Ferris develops well the conflicted Perkins,
whose fame was eclipsed by Presley, all the way from the King taking Perkins’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Blue Suede Shoes </i>and making it into a
hit that exceeded the original author’s recording, but generally overshadowing the
man known as the King of Rock-a-billie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Christopher Ryan Grant gives a human portrayal of
Sam Phillips, Kelly Lamont is fine as Presley’s girl friend of the moment, and
bass player Chuck Zayas and drummer Christopher Ryan Grant, are excellent
musicians who add much to the show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Palatino;
mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Capsule judgement: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is one of those
special evenings of theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s
filled with great music and fine performances that led to screaming, yelling,
clapping, multi-standing ovations given by the opening night audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">Memories Are Made of This</i>!</span><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino">MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
plays the Palace through October 23.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>For tickets call <span style="color:black">216-241-6000 or go to <u>www.playhousesquare.org</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Palatino"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div><div> </div><div><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#8000FF">Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2011, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info. His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and www.NeOHIOpal</font></i></div></div></body></html>