Blues, Pop, Country and Rock ‘n’ Roll

Reviewed by Mary Alderson

History was made on December 4, 1956 when four great singers just happened to end up in the same room and had a jam session. Now you can re-live that historic moment with Million Dollar Quartet now on tour from Orillia to Stirling and points in between (see below).

Sun Records in Memphis, owned by Sam Phillips, was the original home of then-rising star Johnny Cash, unknown Jerry Lee Lewis, veteran musician Carl Perkins, and chart-topper Elvis Presley. It was the first and only time these four jammed together, and so the story of that fateful day lives on and we can see the events unfold in this musical 70 years later.

The story is narrated by Sam Phillips and we are given his perspective on this event. Phillips defends his decision to sell Elvis’s recording contracts to RCA. He used the money to pay off debts so that Sun Records could continue to exist, and he also bought shares in a fledgling company – a little hotel business called Holiday Inn.

The plot is based on each singer’s contract with Sun Records. Elvis is now with RCA but would rather be back with his friend Sam who gave him personal encouragement. Carl’s unhappy because he wrote and recorded “Blue Suede Shoes”, but it was Elvis who made it a hit and Carl continues to harbour that grudge. Johnny is dissatisfied because he hasn’t had a hit recently, and he decides not to extend his contract with Sam, preferring to switch to Columbia. But he doesn’t have the nerve to tell Sam. And Jerry Lee is just a very cocky, annoying kid – but one who has visible star quality and pounds the keyboard like a madman.

This dissention over contracts takes place in one evening which limits the plot, but it isn’t just the story that attracts theatre-goers. It’s the music, and the singing certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Jacob James is perfect as Sam Phillips, who narrates the story. James has the good old Southern boy sound and attitude down pat. He goes through all the emotions: he loves his young recording artists,  and he is hurt and angry when their success takes them beyond his small studio.

Jack Kotanen almost steals the show as Jerry Lee Lewis. He is a whiz on the piano, hands flying over the keyboard in the boogie-woogie numbers. Kotanen can play the keys backwards, while lying on top of the piano. He also kicks the piano bench out of the way, a move for which Lewis was famous. With Jerry Lee’s cockiness, Kotanen provides much of the show’s comedy. “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’” are worth the ticket price alone.

Carl Perkins is portrayed by Kieran Prouty, who plays the guitar like a veteran. Perkins, of course, made rockabilly music famous with his blend of country and rock ’n’ roll.  Prouty replicates the rockabilly sound perfectly. His renditions of “Matchbox” and “Who Do You Love” are excellent.

Liam Lynch is perfect as Elvis: he has the looks of a handsome young Elvis, including the lock of hair falling across his forehead. Plus, he has the sound. His “That’s Alright Mama” and “Hound Dog” have the audience bobbing in time.

Brett Houghton has the wide vocal range needed for playing Johnny Cash. He is able to sing the Man in Black’s deep bass notes and gives us “Folsom Prison Blues”, “Sixteen Tons”, and “I Walk the Line”, which are audience favourites. Another crowd-pleaser is “Down by the Riverside” which the cast sings together a cappella in four-part harmony.

All four men play the instruments that their characters are famous for – there is no band in the orchestra pit. Joining them are Daniel Verdecchia on drums and Kevin Forster as Carl Perkins’ brother Jay, on bass.

Jessica Wilson is outstanding as Dyanne, Elvis’ girlfriend of the day. She is smoldering hot with her sizzling rendition of “Fever” and also has a very strong performance of “I Hear You Knockin’”.

Kudos to Music Director Tyler Check for replicating the sound of the original performers. I’ve seen Check previously in the role of Carl Perkins – it’s nice to see him make use of that experience. Credit goes to Director Phil Nero for bringing out the best in this cast, and making the audience believe we were transported back to Memphis in 1956.

This show played with many of the same cast members at the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed in the summer of 2024. Because it proved to be very popular, it was revived this season to tour the area.

It’s interesting to have a musical to mark this historical event. It seems like pop, blues, and country all came together to create rockabilly, which then gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll. Many of the songs played in this musical are familiar to me from going to hear the late great Ronnie Hawkins. He brought rockabilly to Canada back in the 1960s and gave Canadians an appreciation for the Memphis sound.

Million Dollar Quartet keeps that style alive, and documents an exciting day in the development of the music of our generation. It’s well worth seeing for both the historical value of the story, and the great music.

Photos: The original photo taken by Sam Phillips himself, December 4, 1956, with Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
Second Photo: Jack Kotanen as Jerry Lee Lewis, Jessica Wilson as Dyanne, Brett Houghten as Johnny Cash, Keiran Prouty as Carl Perkins, and Liam Lynch as Elvis. Behind are Kevin Forster on bass and Daniel Verdecchia (not visible) on drums, with Jacob James as Sam Phillips in the recording room.

Million Dollar Quartet, like Elvis, has left the building (The Marble Arts Centre, Tweed) and gone on tour. I highly recommend you catch it at one of these locations:

Orillia Opera House (Orillia, ON):
September 17 – September 19, 2026

Pembroke Festival Hall (Pembroke, ON):
September 25 – September 26, 2026

Brockville Arts Centre (Brockville, ON):
October 2 – October 3, 2026

Dream Co. Theatre at Whitby (Whitby, ON):
October 14 – October 18, 2026

Stirling Festival Theatre (Stirling, ON):
October 21 – October 24, 2026

Million Dollar Quartet
Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
Inspired by the music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins and the work of Sam Phillips
Directed by Phil Nero
Musical Direction by Tyler Check
Performed by Jacob James, Jessica Wilson, Liam Lynch, Brett Houghton, Jack Kotanen, Kieran Prouty, Daniel Verdecchia, Kevin Forster.
Produced by Tweed & Co.
Marble Arts Centre, Tweed
Runs on Tour from September 17 to October 24
Reviewed by Mary Alderson