Ross William Wild in Million Dollar Quartet at the Royal Festival Hall, London and Touring. Picture: Roy Tan
Million Dollar Quartet continues at the Royal Festival Hall, London until 2 January and then tours until June 2017.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
We’ve had productions aplenty about another Fab Four down the years, but thankfully here we’re not focusing on The Cavern yet again, but an ex-auto parts shop in Memphis, Tennessee, home of Sam Phillips’ legendary Sun Studio.
This riotous show focuses on a famous day, 4 December 1956, when none other than Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins all returned to the ‘home’ of rock’n’roll for a now legendary, impromptu jam session – the last time they would all be together. Fate and fame would see to that.
On the surface Million Dollar Quartet, of course, is just another hit-filled jukebox musical, but given the cast’s collective musical prowess, energy and total commitment, it’s still quite irresistible.
The simple, yet effective set (design by David Farley) is perfect, Martin Kemp as owner Sam Phillips pacing up and down inside the Sun Studio’s recording booth, coffee mug in hand and not missing a trick.
Kemp, of course, is the box office draw and the character he creates, complete with Alabama drawl, is an engaging mix of creative entrepreneur, caring ‘father’ to his ‘boys’, loveable rogue, sharp negotiator and hard-nosed businessman.
As the story of how each artist came to be signed by Phillips unfolds, there’s high expectation in the air as Presley, played by Ross William Wild takes centrestage. Initially, it’s a burden he struggles with, but as the show progresses, he gains confidence, gyrates a hip, purses a lip and visibly grows into the role.
Into the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere strolls Dyanne, Presley’s girlfriend, for her moment in the spotlight: Katie Ray singing ‘Fever’, and fizzing with sexuality.
Among the classic tunes included are ‘That’s All Right’, ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Walk the Line’, plus ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, written by Carl Perkins but which helped put Presley firmly on the global map after being given to him by Phillips, something which Perkins never forgave the Sun founder for.
Creative tensions are laid bare from the start, the loose cannon that is new arrival Jerry Lee Lewis getting seriously under the skin of established artist Perkins. “Eighty eight keys beat six strings anytime,” says the manic piano player whose sensationally dexterous digits appear almost boneless.
Martin Kaye, an experienced Million Dollar Quarter cast member is off the scale manic and hugely entertaining as Lee Lewis and absolutely key to the show’s success. There’s a nice contrast with the laidback, chilled out and melancholic Johnny Cash, Robbie Durham’s portrayal pretty much faultless and his covers of ‘Sixteen Tons’ and ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ among the best moments.
The main, only real problem with this production, is that the Royal Festival Hall doesn’t exactly shout rock’n’roll and the mostly mature house really struggled, right until the end, to create any atmosphere.
But, when the show hits the road in January for its first UK tour, I predict there’ll be a whole lot more shakin’ going on – there’s plenty of retro music fans out there ready to put a dime into this particular jukebox.
Derek Smith
www.milliondollarquartetlive.co.uk
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