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| Jaake Margo, Jessica LaFever, Tarif Pappu, Greg Zema and Nick Kenrick join voices. (Joyce Goldschmid photo) |
Four of the biggest names in ‘50s music got together on Dec. 4, 1956, and recorded a jam session that became a hit record and now a rollicking musical, “Million Dollar Quartet,” presented by Palo Alto Players.
Gathering in the Sun Records recording
studio in Memphis, Tenn., Carl Perkins (Tarif Pappu), Johnny Cash (Greg Zema),
Jerry Lee Lewis (Nick Kenrick) and Elvis Presley (Jaake Margo) sang and played
some of their biggest hits.
Director Jeffrey Bracco has assembled
this multi-talented cast to regale the audience for about 90 minutes without
intermission.
And the hits just keep coming. They
include “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Memories Are Made of This,” “Down by the
Riverside,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Peace in the Valley,” “I Walk
the Line,” “I Hear You Knocking,” “Hound Dog,” “See You Later Alligator,”
“Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” and more.
One of the brightest highlights of this
evening of highlights is “Fever,” sung by Jessica LaFever as Dyanne, Elvis’
girlfriend. In her form-fitting red dress, she turns the heat up to incendiary
pitch.
Kenrick channels Jerry Lee’s virtuosic,
athletic piano playing, especially in “Great Balls of Fire.”
Completing the cast is Jeremy Ryan as
Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records.
Daniel Murguia on bass and Ryan Stohs on
drums accompany the guitars and piano. Katie Coleman serves as musical
director.
The book by Colin Escott and Floyd
Mutrux is fairly thin, focusing mainly on Sam’s hopes to have all four men
under contract to Sun in order to keep them away from rival Columbia Records.
There’s also Carl’s animosity toward the brash Jerry Lee.
The Southern accents sometimes hinder
comprehension of lines, but that’s a minor concern. Music is the centerpiece,
and what terrific, uplifting music it is.
“Million Dollar Quartet” will continue
through Oct. 1 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or visit www.paplayers.org.
