NSMT’s ‘Quartet’ offers magical musical moments

By Rich Fahey

BEVERLY —  “Million Dollar Quartet” at the North Shore Music Theatre  is a jukebox musical with a capital “J.” But there’s nothing wrong with a jukebox musical when said jukebox is filled with ageless tunes such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

“Million Dollar Quartet” is a recounting of the true story of a Carl Perkins recording session that brought together four rock ‘n roll icons — Elvis Presley, Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash — on Dec. 4, 1956 in a recording studio in Memphis, Tenn.

All four got their start with Sun Records and its owner, Sam Phillips, the legendary “father of rock ‘n roll.” Phillips was famed for selling Presley’s contract to RCA for $40,000 in 1955 to ensure Sun’s survival, the music version of Red Sox owner Harry Frazee selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000 in 1920.

The details of the recording session remain a bit up in the air to this day, although the sessions were eventually released in a series of recordings beginning in 1981.

Against that backdrop, book writers Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux have fashioned a story that imagines rivalries among the singers, decisions they made that Phillips took as betrayal, and other intrigue that help link together the score that includes 22 musical numbers.

The songs sung that night were a mash-up of several different genres, including rock, gospel, R&B and country, and there is something for everyone in the show, no matter what your taste. The two hours are a series of magical musical moments.

I’ve been lucky enough to see two of the four icons portrayed perform live, and the actors do a fine job portraying both their characters and their musical styles and yes, they are all singing and playing their instruments.

“Quartet” is a showcase for the talents of Brandon Fillette as Jerry Lee Lewis,  the irrepressible piano artist and singer from Louisiana  whose brashness and confidence gets under the skin of his fellow artists. He brings humor to the piece  and deftly channels Lewis’s manic playing style, bringing down the house with show-stopping versions of “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.”

Sam Sherwood is a superb guitarist and excellent singer as Carl Perkins, the writer of “Blue Suede Shoes” who as the show opens is seeking another hit to revive his career.

Blake Burgess is spot-on as Johnny Cash, “The Man in Black,” taking those bass notes ever lower and then nailing them; his “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Sixteen Tons” are two musical highlights.

Noah Barnes is a young, still humble Elvis Presley enjoying sudden fame and fortune and returning to where it all began, accompanied by a lady friend named Dyanne (Hailie Lucille).  Barnes shines in “That’s All Right” and “Hound Dog” and Lucille takes the spotlight for “Fever” and “I Hear You Knocking.”

Joe Bentley is a bass playing terror as Carl Perkins’ brother Jay; Stephen Blauch  is a steady hand as the drummer Fluke.

Zach Cossman ties it all together as Phillips, the small-time operator who struck oil but soon found himself out-gunned by the big guys as he struggled to hold onto the acts he made famous.
It’s fun to see the all-time greats playing backup vocalist and accompanying each other.

By the way, “Million Dollar Quartet” borrows a bit from “Mamma Mia!,” which has as its finale a series of encore numbers in which the principals come out attired in outrageous pastel-colored spandex outfits popular in the disco era.

In this case, after the story itself ends, the  cast returns in showy sequined jackets and the quartet embarks on several encore numbers, including the aforementioned “Whole Lotta Of Shakin Goin‘ On” that had the audience up and dancing.

Kudos to Director and Choreographer Greg Santos for both the movement and the staging. The scenic design by Kyle Dixon, Travis M. Grant’s original costume design, Jose Santiago’s lighting, Alex Berg’s sound, and Rachel Padula-Shufelt’s hair and wig designs effectively complement Santos’s work.

“Million Dollar Quartet” is pure entertainment throughout, skillfully staged and performed, and a delight for anyone who is fan of the era and some of the greatest rock ’n roll tunes ever written.

The North Shore Music Theatre production of “Million Dollar Quartet.” Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux. Original concept and direction by Floyd Mutrux At the North Shore Music Theatre through Oct. 6. Nsmt.org