A classic jukebox musical
While The Arts Theatre in Great Newport Street is undergoing major renovations, the Arts at Marble Arch has popped up as a temporary venue on the roundabout, allowing the Arts Theatre to continue hosting a range of full-scale shows until it can move back to its Covent Garden home. After a successful run at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, Director Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of Million Dollar Quartet transfers to this theatre on a roundabout for a 12-week run, writes Christopher Peacock.
Written by Colin Escott & Floyd Mutrux, A Million Dollar Quartet has had success on Broadway, earning Tony nominations, and was also loved by audiences when it was last in the capital in 2011. The show uses an iconic moment in Rock ‘n’ Roll history where, on the 4th December 1956, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley all descended on Sun Studios Memphis for a recording session, a a springboard for a classic jukebox musical.
The Escott & Mutrux book uses producer and founder of Sun Records, Sam Phillips, played by Darren Day, as the pivot for the piece; flashbacks show us how all four of these future Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers first came to Sun Studios. The show runs through hit after hit, some of which were recordings from that fateful night in Memphis, others just classic hits. The Escott & Mutrux book and song selection do not let historical accuracy get in the way of an entertaining night.
In O’Boyles’ production, having such a talented cast turns what could just be a cliché Rock ‘n’ Roll night into a real show. The rhythm section of session men, Brother Jay and W.S. ‘Fluke’ Holland, played by Garaint Downing and Jacob Evans, balance out the egos in the room and keep everything tight musically. Christopher Erasmus’ Johnny Cash is deep and sombre, but the turn from Joe Bence as Jerry Lee Lewis is the pick of the quartet. Bence delivers a comedic performance without resorting to slapstick, perfectly capturing the playing style and energy of Jerry Lee Lewis.
Million Dollar Quartet is an excellent vehicle to run through many crowd-pleasing tunes. The pace of the second half of the show does slow when the book indulges the prominence and importance of Sam Phillips in these men’s lives, but when the hits come rolling back in everything picks back up.
Each audience will be different; some will want to join in at any given moment, but by the end of the show there will be very few audiences not on their feet joining in the final medley of numbers.
The Arts at Marble Arch, Marble Arch, London, W1H 7DX until December 6th
Booking and full details: https://www.artsatmarblearch.com/
