Million Dollar Quartet is a fun show, filled with amazing music and performances. It follows the true story of a recording session with some of the top rock ‘n’ roll stars of the 1950s. Here’s my Million Dollar Quartet theatre review.
Overview and plot synopsis of Million Dollar Quartet
Million Dollar Quartet is a stage show/musical that dramatises the real recording session that took place on 4th December 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The musical is framed through the perspective of Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records and often described as the “Father of Rock ’n’ Roll.” My Million Dollar Quartet theatre review will first give an overview and synopsis of the show, and then I’ll talk about what I liked about the show.
In Million Dollar Quartet, Sam Phillips recounts how four musicians he helped launch – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis – converged in his studio for what became a historically significant jam session. The show presents the circumstances that brought each artist to Sun Records that day and outlines Phillips’s efforts to manage their careers and ambitions.
The plot follows the interactions among the four musicians as they rehearse, talk, and revisit their shared history with Phillips. First, Carl Perkins arrives to record new material. He’s accompanied by his brother Jay Perkins on bass and drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland. Phillips pairs Perkins with Jerry Lee Lewis, whose energetic piano style and outspoken personality create tension but also humour during the session. Elvis Presley enters the studio with his girlfriend, Dyanne. She also performs songs during the session. And Johnny Cash arrives later. Together, the musicians play some of the greatest rock and rolls songs of the 1950s, many of which are still famous today.
The history behind the show
The musical uses the interactions between the characters between the songs to depict the professional crossroads each artist faces. It includes contract negotiations, career transitions, and evolving musical identities. The show also highlights the broader history of early rock and roll. It shows how Sun Records served as a catalyst for this new music style that blended music from different cultures in America at the time. It captured a moment when these artists were shaping a new cultural movement, bringing new music to new audiences. The session itself – later known as the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ – became iconic, showing the era’s experimentation with this new blend of music styles, and the rise of performers who would become major figures in American popular music.
What I liked about Million Dollar Quartet
I really enjoyed Million Dollar Quartet. It’s undoubtedly a show that’s all about the music, and musical performances. And the music was great.
The music and the performances in Million Dollar Quartet
For me, the absolute highlight of Million Dollar Quartet was the music, and the performances of all of the cast. There are so many good songs in this show. The show is about 2 hours long, and it’s jam packed with high energy and the best rock n roll music.
The cast performed the music amazingly well, and it’s their performances that really help you get fully into the music. You could really feel the love of the music from the performers. I just loved seeing the joy in the faces of the performers, where they looked at each other and grinned during the songs and guitar pieces. The performers’ love of performing that music was catching, and with a lot of the audience clapping and dancing along, it was just such a good, fun atmosphere in the room.
The piano player, Jerry Lee Lewis, really stood out for me. He was amazing on the piano. He didn’t just sit there and play – he was almost acrobatic at the piano, with lots of rolls, playing standing up and then hitting the high notes with his foot. It was just brilliant. The song Great Balls of Fire was one of the highlights for me. And Elvis was great as well – I kept feeling myself drawn to watching him.
There was good variety in the music, including a slower, almost a capella number after they have a more sad, serious conversation about loss of family members. And Elvis’s girlfriend was a great performer as well who added some variety.
The performances of all the cast were amazing. It felt world class, I was so impressed. And for a show like this, that is 99% about the music, it needs good musicians. And this show did. You could tell that all of them – the cast and the audience – were loving it.
The medley at the end
The whole show built up to a brilliant ending, with the audience on their feet and some audience participation. There were songs like Hound Dog and several other hits. There were lots of older people in the audience and you could really feel their joy, that these songs were taking them back to their youth. An older couple were dancing at the side of the room during the final medley, which was so sweet. The show just made you fall in love with the music. Most of the audience seemed like they were already fans, but even if you didn’t know the music that well, you would love it by the end.
The set and the characters
The set of Million Dollar Quartet was great, and instantly made you feel like you’re in the recording studio. There was everything you’d expect – microphones, guitars, piano, drums, double bass, and all in a room that looked like a recording studio. This show didn’t need set changes throughout the show, because the whole show takes place in that one room (apart from maybe one or two scenes where they step outside for a minute). But the set and lighting really worked, and added to the great performances.
I thought all the characters were portrayed really well, both within the songs and also in the pieces of dialogue between each music hit. Again, Jerry Lee Lewis really stood out as a memorable character. I really liked his sweet, bashful, but also slightly naughty and funny character, as well as his acrobatic piano playing. One of the funniest lines in the show was from him: ‘The Lord said love thy neighbour, and I did my best’. In his Louisiana accent, it was very funny.
What I wasn’t so sure about
I really enjoyed Million Dollar Quartet. There wasn’t much about this show that I didn’t like.
I guess some of the dialogue between the songs felt a bit pointless. At times when they were talking, I felt myself impatient for them to get to the next song. But I get that they need something to break up the songs a bit. And some of the dialogue was funny, or it showed the deeper meaning and tensions at the time.
If you want to see a musical with a strong storyline, then Million Dollar Quartet might not be for you. It’s not really a musical with much of a story. Beyond the summary of the plot that can be summaries on one line – that these four were in the same room for a recording session – there isn’t really much more story. In the second half you get to know the characters a bit more, when they’re talking about losing family members and you see the pain of Sam Phillips when he learns that he’s losing his boys to another record company at the end of their contract. But beyond that, there’s not a huge amount of story. It’s more of a concert of the great songs. But the music and performances are amazing, so for me it still worked really well on stage.
Would I recommend going to see Million Dollar Quartet
My Million Dollar Quartet theatre review is really positive, so I would recommend going to see this show. It’s a really good fun show. I would definitely recommend if you’re a fan of rock and roll music, or you remember growing up with this music in your youth. But if you’re only a casual fan or you’re too young to remember the original music, this show will still be really enjoyable. The show really will make you fall in love with this music and get to know some new songs. It’s a real celebration of rock and roll music and the 1950s stars. The amazing performances from the cast will make you fall in love with this music all over again, like you’re hearing it for the first time.
Hope you enjoyed my Million Dollar Quartet theatre review! Check out my other theatre reviews for more shows in the West End, across the UK and the world.
