With a track list spanning Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis & Carl Perkins, ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ explores the musical genius of the decade’s most influential voices. Written by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, and directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, this fast-paced musical is a guaranteed night of fun (and plenty of singing of course!).
Such a show cannot be discussed without first addressing the musicality (musical supervision by Lee Freeman). The entire cast do an incredible job of creating such a fun and concert-like atmosphere whilst also demonstrating some seriously impressive musical prowess. A particular standout has to be Joe Bence, playing the role of Jerry Lee Lewis. He depicts Lewis with such a playful & cheeky sincerity whilst also showcasing some, frankly, otherworldly piano skills. I found myself looking forward to both his hilarious one-liner quips & his lively musical interludes.
Another musical standout has to be Geraint Downing, playing the role of ‘Brother Jay’ (the older brother of Carl Perkins). His talent is incredible to witness, and the presence he manages to carry despite being glued to such a typically stationary instrument is truly impressive. He throws around the double bass as if it’s an electric guitar, holding his own against a stage of formidable talent and forcing the audience to pay attention to his skill.
I think the overall plot is a little bit lost and maybe somewhat lacking. The entire story takes place over just one evening, giving us a little snippet into the lives of these four stars just on the brink of becoming something even bigger. It’s a fun concept, with the role of ‘Mr Phillips’ (Darren Day) acting as a quirky and somewhat biased narrator.
However, I think the more emotional, poignant moments of the show suffer slightly from its quick-paced nature. We don’t have the time to really settle into each character’s personal issues before we’re rushing into the next musical number. I think it tries to portray that really interesting conflict between loyalty and opportunity; unfortunately, though, it does just get a bit lost in the loud chaos of the production.
Overall, Million Dollar Quartet is a really fun night out, with plenty of opportunity to sing and dance alongside some of the most famous singers in musical history. It’s not necessarily a hard-hitting show, but it most certainly does the job of bringing rock and roll back to life.
It runs at Marble Arch until 6th December. Tickets: here.
Review: Bethany Chandler Photo: Alex Trabizi