Broadway Theater Review: Million Dollar Quartet

An Incredible Jam Session—Then and Now
By Lauren Yarger
Levi Kreis tickles some unbelievable ivories as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet, a rockin’ and rollin’ good time at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre.

Kreis received a Jeff Award as best supporting actor for the role he originated in the Chicago run of the show, and once you’ve experienced his gravity-defying keyboarding, you won’t wonder why.

He’s joined by Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash) and Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley) in the story based on a true legendary 1956 jam session of the four music legends.

They all end up at Sun Records in Memphis. Lewis hopes his will be the next one launched into stardom by owner Sam Phillips (Hunter Foster). Phillips, who already regrets having sold Presley’s contract to another recording company, isn’t focused on Lewis, though, or on Perkins, who has seen Presley replace him at the top of the charts. Phillips goal is to get Cash to sign an extension of his contract.

The musical’s book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux (who provided the concept and original direction), doesn’t try to offer much more plot than that, except to add Dyanne (Elizabeth Stanley), a girlfriend for Presley, who wants a singing career too. The thrust of the show comes instead from the music: 23 gospel, R&B and country hits performed by the quartet (and some by Dyanne).

Kreis, who contributed additional arrangements (Chuck Mead arranged and supervised the music), is sensational, burning up the piano and giving an in-depth portrayal to Lewis as a hammy and egocentric guy. Lyons portrays the jealous Perkins well and Guest, while not exuding a lot of personality, lends a nice sounding voice to Cash’s tunes (making them sound better than the off-key Cash. Clendening is miscast, however, and neither sounds nor looks like Elvis.

Foster, as the sharp legend maker, stumbles around for his lines from time to time, and unfortunately, doesn’t get to sing any songs of his own.

Directed by Eric Schaeffer, the show has some awkward pauses after musical segments when dialogue begins where the audience tries to applaud. Besides Kreis, the show’s other stars are Howell Binkley’s lighting which transforms Derek McLane’s recreation of the recording studio into a rock concert and Kai Harada’s sound design which allows us to hear individual notes as well as full volume rock without popping eardrums.

This fun blast from the past is just 90 minutes long and features a post-curtain-call jam session with the quartet showing off their acumen on their instruments that’s almost worth the price of the ticket itself.

Million Dollar Quartet plays at the Nederlander, 208 W. 41st St., NYC. For tickets call 212-307-4100; Outside NY/NJ/CT: 800-755-4000.

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