Photos by Ryan Loyd, Rylo Media Design
A confession: I walked into Million Dollar Quartet, running now through March 8 at SLO REP, feeling somewhat under-qualified to review a musical about rock ’n’ roll royalty.
Don’t get me wrong, I love musicals, and I enjoy rock ’n’ roll when I hear it, but I’m certainly no expert. This is a show about a jam session with four of the great rock legends, and I had to Google two of them.
I’ve always found the pictures of fans in the 1950s screaming their heads off sweet, but I didn’t really understand what all the fuss was about. I always figured that maybe you had to be there to get it.
After watching this show, I get it.
Million Dollar Quartet is a must-see, whether you’re a rock nerd or just a person who enjoys fun. Frankly, even if you don’t enjoy fun, this show might get you on board.
Based on the real-life 1956 jam session featuring Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley, Million Dollar Quartet is both a jukebox musical and an exhilarating rock concert. Director Kevin Harris delivers audiences a night to remember, with bright lights, thrilling performances, and an engaging story.
SLO REP is the perfect venue for this show, with the small theater and wrap-around seating allowing the performers to play to every seat in the house. It feels less like sitting down for a night of theater and more like scoring fantastic tickets to a rock ’n’ roll concert. It’s a show that makes you want to get up and dance, and even allows you to do so by the end.
Toby Tropper emcees the show as Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. Tropper acts as a narrator for the audience while playing a significant, even emotional, role within the story itself. He leads with confidence, engrossing the audience with flashbacks and anecdotes without breaking from his friendly, fast-talking persona.
Alex Burnette is electric as Lewis. He brings a jaw-dropping level of energy to the performance, embodying The Killer from head to toe. Burnette makes the piano an extension of himself, slamming the keys like his life depends on it in every number—even playing with his feet.
This character could easily be a one-note ball of energy, but Burnette brings a surprising amount of dimension to the role. Sometimes he is charming, sometimes arrogant—sometimes even dangerous. His status as the group’s wild card brings a level of tension to the largely professional quartet.
Collin Yates is smooth and compelling as the King of Rockabilly Carl Perkins. Yates performs with impressive control, his voice flowing from polished calm into punches of energy. His guitar skills are also a musical treat. Yates shines with his bold, vibrant riffing, regularly going head-to-head with Burnette’s Lewis.
Yates’ stand-out acting brings real nuance to his role, with his confident professionalism tinged with an undercurrent of bitterness. The moments when Perkins lets go and puts voice to his anger are chilling.
Zachary Tate as Cash provides an engrossing contrast to the rest of the group. While the other performers can be slick and beguiling, Cash is shockingly earnest. Tate plays Cash’s connection to his faith as a fundamental facet of his character. This lends Cash a solemn, contemplative aura that the other characters respond to with implicit trust.
Tate’s deep, resonant vocals resemble Cash’s through and through. His baritone lends depth to the group vocals and leads to many fun solo moments, such as the long, low growl during “Sixteen Tons.” Tate does an excellent job of matching the energy of the group without sacrificing Johnny Cash’s soulful musical style.
When Tony Costa sings, Elvis has entered the building. From his first solo, “Memories Are Made of This,” Costa enchants with rich, silky vocals. This serenading is paired with delightful dance moves, really bringing to life The King of Rock ’n’ Roll.
Costa also brings an effortless charisma to the role, charming the crowd as well as the other characters. He is cool and magnetic, but at times he slips into the wide-eyed sincerity of an artist still early in his career, making him easy to love. He also interacts playfully with the audience, filling out the illusion of being at an Elvis Presley concert.
“Million Dollar Quartet“ is a fun name (and the name of the real-life jam session recording) but it is something of a misnomer for this show. This production is a quintet. Kamilah Lay’s Dyanne is Elvis’ girlfriend and an absolute dynamite performer. Her cover of “Fever” is silky and seductive, with vocals so clean that it was hard to believe she was singing live.
In “I Hear You Knockin’” Lay lets loose with powerhouse belting. Her voice absolutely wowed the audience. Dyanne is a fictionalized version of Elvis’ real-life girlfriend, Marilyn Evans, who did not sing at the jam session. However, she is an extremely welcome addition to this fantastic cast.
Million Dollar Quartet is funny, nostalgic, and exhilarating. Everyone in the audience left smiling.
Get your tickets and get ready to rock!