Hard on the bank of the Fox River, the intimate Stolp Island Theatre is the latest Paramount Theatre venue to open in downtown Aurora and it looks like a million bucks. Which is only fitting, since it opened Saturday night with a raucous, richly entertaining production of Million Dollar Quartet, the musical dramatizing the December night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis gathered together in Memphis’ Sun Studio for the first and only time.
Just past the box office at the theater entrance, the immersive experience begins in a lobby that boasts a museum-quality re-creation of the facade of Sun Studio, where Sam Phillips launched all of those iconic musicians to stardom (not to mention Roy Orbison) on his Sun Records. Interpretive video panels detail the label’s history on the opposite wall. Between them in the Memphis streetscape stands a gorgeous vintage motorcycle. And just off to the side, there’s Taylor’s Good Food, a walk-up diner counter where you can score Moon Pies, Pepsi in period-correct glass bottles, Schlitz beer and a surprisingly tasty rusty nail.
The show is currently scheduled to run through December 29, but the lobby wonderland suggests the Paramount is tuning up for an extended sit-down. Inside the theatre, an audience of about 100 sits on opposite sides of a long room. At the far end, there’s a faithful facsimile of the elevated recording booth, which looks out over a former auto-parts store that’s still renowned for its unique sound recording qualities (I highly recommend you take the Sun Studio tour next time you’re actually in Memphis).
After being wowed by the lobby presentation, the theater set by Jeffrey D. Kmiec and the programs encased in what look like 45rpm record sleeves, anticipation runs high for the actual show. It does not disappoint. Showcasing infectious hit after infectious hit, Million Dollar Quartet lives and dies by the quality of the music performed by the actors portraying these giants of early rock ‘n’ roll.
Directed with verve by Jim Corti and Creg Sclavi, and spot-on music direction by Kory Danielson, this Million Dollar Quartet soars on the thrilling guitar work of Christopher Wren as a seething Carl Perkins watching his labelmates eclipse him; the raw, electric acting and killer piano playing of Garrett Forrestal as a young Jerry Lee Lewis trying to impress his idols; the soulful singing of Alex Swindle and Bill Scott Sheets as fully realized versions of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash (who they have been portraying in various productions for many years); the nicely contrasting torch songs of Madison Palmer as Elvis’ girlfriend, Dyanne; and the sweaty energy of Sam Pearson as Sam Phillips trying to keep his label afloat even as his artists leave for the richer contracts and better distribution of RCA and Columbia.
They all come together to deliver a musical experience as electric as Perkins’ guitar. Highlights include Wren’s opening number, “Blue Suede Shoes,” Palmer’s seductive solo on “Fever,” Swindle’s plaintive “That’s Alright Mama” and Sheets’ pitch-perfect “Folsom Prison Blues.” But the first among equals here from an all-around performance perspective is Forrestal, who commits to his edgy, sometimes frenetic character 100 percent, especially on “Great Balls of Fire” and the ecstatic closing number, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” With all of his piano-top jumping and bench kicking, it’s a wonder he doesn’t hurt himself. But you’ve got to be a little crazy to effectively portray the Killer.
A high-hat tip, also, to Dan Leali and Jake Saleh, who keep the rhythms cooking on drums and upright bass, respectively. Leali is especially deft with the brushes on his snare, a somewhat lost art.
This show is well worth the trek to Aurora and it appeals to a wide range of audiences, so bring the whole family, as they say. I can’t get enough of the music, and could happily watch these guys perform it every day. They and the material are good enough to play sold-out club gigs, if they should choose.
And when the stars gather round the mic to croon “Down by the Riverside,” fans of these essential, elemental musicians may realize they’re having what amounts to a spiritual experience in this beautiful new theater next to the swirling waters of the Fox.
Million Dollar Quartet runs through (at least) December 29 at Stolp Island Theatre.
For a full roundup of reviews of this show, visit Theatre in Chicago.
Photo by Liz Lauren
