By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
The Million Dollar Quartet is raising the roof of the Hafen indoor Theater at Tuacahn weekly from Mondays thru Thursdays with the sounds of classic rock and roll music. This entertaining group will continue to put smiles on the faces of audience members through Saturday, Aug 7.
The Show depicts one historically famous night, December 4, 1956, when the young Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley all got together at the legendary Sun Records recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee and jammed all night. Sam Phillips took the now historic picture that proved it really happened.
The theatre show offers an interesting storyline that explains how these legends all happened to be there at the same time. But what the audience will remember is the wonderful jam session that took place and the talent of the actors who played their parts. Kudos should be given to both David Sonneborn, musical Director and Keith Andrews for putting this all together under their direction.
Colin Summers as Carl Perkins portrayed the stress that is put on entertainers. Yet he also livened up the stage with his singing and great guitar playing. Summers is a writer and composer. When not performing in theatre productions he performs his own works.
“Hello, my name is Johnny Cash” said Benjamin D. Hale at the entry of his character.
And the audience can believe it; so much so that it is hard to picture him in Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas where he played a quite different role. His voice is amazing, total sounds of Johnny.
Kavan Hashemian, better known as Elvis Presley in this production, is in his eleventh production of the Million Dollar Quartet. He aptly plays the young Elvis, complete with the Jellyroll and Bryl-creamed hair. He is still quite shy, but when his is singing, just like the real Elvis,
What can be said about Jerry Lee Lewis? Gabe Aronson has portrayed Lewis in nine productions of Million Dollar Quartet. He leaves the audience with wanting to see more. He is funny and talented. It would have been something if we could see dueling pianos play out between Aronson and Lewis himself. Aronson has all the pep and energy of Lewis, but maybe a cuter smile.
Kyli Rae reprised her role as Elvis’s girlfriend, Marilyn Evans, in the play. Rae is an accomplished singer and dancer herself. She fit well into the role. As the music heated up, she proved she could belt out a song with the rest of them.
Isaac Ericksen, a local St George boy plays Brother Jay, brother to Carl Perkins and bass player extraordinaire. Ericksen is a touring bass blues musician. This part was perfect for him. Not only can he tickle those strings, but he can do it from indescribable positions.
Drummer David Sonneborn was in the original production of Million Dollar Quartet. He is thrilled to be back at Tuacahn.
Sam Phillips is played by John Gardiner. Gardiner grew up with Rock & Roll. He played Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys and various parts in many other productions. In the Million Dollar Quartet he plays the guy who brought them all together in a studio session that is now the stuff of legends.
This Tuacahn presentation brought this remarkable dream team alive again. It was a fun-filled evening drawing all attention on the stage, not on worries. There was a lot of foot tapping in the audience. I give it 5 stars.
