Bucks County Playhouse offers a night of nostalgia as audiences are transported back to the days of the 1950’s in their production of, ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’
The play opened on Aug. 10 at the theater in New Hope, Pa.
Set in 1956 at the Sun Records recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ tells the story of how famous musicians, Johnny Cash (Sky Seals), Elvis Presley (Ari McKay Wilford), Jerry Lee Lewis (Brandyn Day) and Carl Perkins (John Michael Presney) not only got their start, but how their careers panned out through working with Sam Phillips (James Ludwig) of Sun Records.
The play opens with the titled. ‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ standing in front of the Sun Records set singing, ‘Blue Suede Shoes,’ together. Standing on stage with their vintage microphones on stands in front of them, audiences were instantly brought back to the days of Rock and Roll.
The four main stars of the show, Seals (Cash), Wilford (Presley), Day (Lewis) and Presney (Perkins), all had tremendous singing voices and another talent that I was very surprised to see going into the show.
Each could play an instrument. Throughout the entire production, the audience got to listen to live music for every song. Seals, Wilford and Presney all had guitars slung across their shoulders, while Day sat in front of a piano. From, ‘Real Wild Child,’ to ‘Down By The Riverside,’ every single number featured live music from the actors.
What was known as an impromptu recording session, did in fact happen by complete accident. Carl Perkins who was at Sun Records on Dec. 4, 1956, arrived with his brother Jay and drummer, Fluke Holland.
Following the success of Perkins’ ‘Blue Suede Shoes,’ he and Sam Phillips of Sun Records were looking for another number one hit. Phillips had the idea to bring in a new piano player to change up the tone of Perkins’ music and he ended up bringing in Jerry Lee Lewis to add on Perkins’ session.
During their session, Johnny Cash came into the studio to meet with Sam Phillips. Cash who has been away on tour has been noticeably ducking Phillips’ phone calls. After Phillips has made him a success over the course of the last year, he plans to surprise him with a new three-year contract with Sun Records.
But conversations get diverted after Elvis Presley, who has been in Hollywood with RCA Records, comes to town to visit his mother and check in with Phillips, who gave him his start at Sun Records.
After hanging out and recording a few songs together, Phillips proclaims the group as his ‘Million Dollar Quartet.’
The foursome takes a break, while Perkins and Cash head over to the local convenient store to grab some drinks and cigarettes. Perkins shares with Cash that Phillips is going to surprise him with a new three-year contract. But to Perkins’ surprise, Cash tells him that he’s received an offer from Columbia Records and he wants to take it.
The first act closes with a final performance from the ‘Quartet,’ and the audience left unsure of what Cash’s next step will be.
Honorable Mention:
Though, the entire cast did an excellent job through singing and performing, Brandyn Day as Jerry Lee Lewis stood out to me the most. His piano playing skills were incredibly matched by his voice. But, he made you really feel like you were watching Lewis perform. Day did a great job playing the character.
‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ continues at the Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street, New Hope, Pa., through Sept. 29. www.bcptheater.org. 215-862-2121.