Do you remember DIG Magazine? The first go-round of ponytails and DAs (the haircuts, not the attorneys), Teen Towns and guys who wanted to look like James Dean? Did you ever hear records referred to as "platters"? Then you need to quickly get yourself to the Fox Theatre to see "Million Dollar Quartet".
Based on the legendary Sun Records in Memphis and its creator Sam Phillips, the musical gives the rousing music of our mostly-sadly-unmisspent youth a fine showcase with performers in the roles of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Unlike other shows is we've seen in recent years that attempt to re-create the music of, for instance, the Rat Pack, this one has scarcely a misstep.
Part of it is due to the respect shown to the music, arrangements close to the original, courtesy of Chuck Mead. But it's the actor-musicians that bring it home. Elvis impersonators, of course, are as common as houseflies, but Cody Slaughter not only looks right, when he opens his mouth, one could almost swear it's the young Elvis. David Elkins plays – and more significantly, sings – Johnny Cash; he, too, is amazingly correct and makes for some satisfying music. James Barry does well as Carl Perkins, and makes the point that "Blue Suede Shoes" was his song, written and recorded by him, before Presley recorded it in what's known as a "cover", and sang it on the Ed Sullivan Show. (Apparently, it took Perkins, perhaps not unreasonably, a long time to get over that.) Do be aware that Slaughter will only play the role through April 28; after that, Billy Woodward takes over.
And then there's Jerry Lee Lewis. He was always a favorite of mine – that piano, that piano! And this was before I saw him actually perform, flailing his arms, legs jerking, hair flying. Then I discovered that he was marrying his 13-year-old cousin, which put a considerable crimp in my adolescent admiration. But the music is irresistible still, and Ben Goddard knows his way around a keyboard, and a piano bench, for that matter. He plays the newcomer to the group, a rascal of a wild child with an ego that could stand up to any of the other three, but not Sam Phillips. Even when backing the others, it's hard to keep your eyes off Goddard's pianna-playin style.
Vince Nappo carries Phillips' strength well; he, too, is due for a replacement after April 28, and it'll be Scott Moreau. The bass player, who was Perkins' brother Jay, is Corey Kaiser, and keep an eye on him as well; Fluke, the drummer, is Billy Shaffer.
No intermission in a show that runs for right at 2 hours. Don't be fooled by the house darkening after the famous photo of the four is taken by Phillips; this is not the end of the show. (We lost at least one couple from our aisle.) There's more to come onstage; the studio in Memphis is replaced by Las Vegas glitz – the show is currently playing there at Harrah's, by the way – and it's still worthwhile. However, once Goddard/Lewis dons the sequined jacket and sits down again at the piano, one notices a certain resemblance to Elton John, but that's probably just the spangles prancing around.
Good lighting, and excellent sound that's loud but not ear-splittingly so, a relief to us all. But a big thumbs-down to the opening night audience who listened to "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" and the following conversation about Chuck Berry with nary a handclap after the discussion of his significance to rock and roll.
Rock and roll is here to stay, indeed. But Million Dollar Quartet is not, and if this is your music, by birth or by appreciation of retro, get a move on. It only runs through May 5.
Million Dollar Quartet
Fox Theatre
through May 5