SOUTHEND THEATRE SCENE
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Main feature writer - Kim Tobin
  • COMING UP
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
    • The Overtones 2019
    • Derren Brown - Showman
    • Stephen K Amos Interview
    • Geoff Norcott INTERVIEW
    • Diversity and Kev Orkian Interviews
    • Giles Cooper talks about Nigel Slater's TOAST
    • Kristian Lavercombe - Riff Raff - Rocky Horror Show
    • Dan Partridge & Martha Kirby talk Grease the Musical
    • Village Green Festival 2019
    • Lee Mead, David Streames & Richard Foster
    • Craig Revel Horwood
    • Jenny Gayner
    • Nigel Slater
    • Alex Bourne Interview - Annie Tour 2019
    • Beverley Craven Interview
    • Gary Barlow and Tim Firth Interview - Calendar Girls
    • Tom Stade 2019 Interview
    • Karen Gibson - The Kingdom Choir
    • AJ Pritchard
    • Phil Walker - Guitar Heroes
    • Jonathan Wrather - The Picture of Dorian Gray - Tilted Wig Productions
    • Kevin Clifton & Graziano Di Prima Interview - Burn the Floor
    • Elesha Paul Moses Interview - Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It?
    • Juliet Mills & Maxwell Caulfield Interview
    • Juliet Mills Interview
    • Holly Liburd - The Bodyguard
    • Alexandra Burke - The Bodyguard
    • Janine Duvitski Interview
    • Matthew Kelly & David Yelland
    • Aled Jones Interview
    • Quadrophenia Live Interview with Doug Freeman
    • Diversity's Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo, Perri Kiely & Terry Smith
    • Ali James & James Cranfield
    • Ed Speleers, Mairi Barclay & Adam Lilley
    • Rachel Lumberg & Faye Christall Interview
    • Rain Main - Mathew Horne & Ed Speleers
    • Charles Sharman-Cox
    • Matt Terry & Antoine Murray-Straughan
    • Collabro Road to the Royal Albert Hall Interview
    • Steve Michaels - Elvis
    • Paul Young Interview
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Jersey Boys Interview
    • Colin Blunstone - The Zombies
    • Dave Kelly - The Blues Band
    • Clive John - Johnny Cash Roadshow
    • Paul Opacic & Richard Walsh
    • Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace
    • Alexander O'Neal Interview
    • Kevin Whately - Our Finest Hour
    • Jenny Eclair - Grumpy Old Women Tour
    • Séan Aydon - Great Expectations
    • Joe McElderry Live in Concert
    • Nichola McAuliffe Interview
    • Natalie Anderson & Jonathan Halliwell
    • Geoff Norcott Interview
    • Mark Steel - Comedian Interview
    • Debra Stephenson & Alice Barlow
    • Dr Feelgood's Kevin Morris
    • Ali James Interview - Oh Yes It Is!
    • Tom Stade Interview
    • Sarah Earnshaw - Nativity the Musical
    • Karina Jones - Wait Until Dark
    • The Stylistics
    • Tom Chambers & Charlotte Wakefield
    • Jessie Wallace - Deathtrap
    • Paul Bradley - Deathtrap
    • George Kemp - The Wipers Times
    • Joe McElderry - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    • Ian Hislop & Nick Newman - The Wipers Times
    • Chris Simmons, All or Nothing the Musical
    • Caroline Flack, Tom Chambers Interview
    • Ruth Madoc
    • Scott Reid - Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
    • Samuel Clemens, Director
    • Elizabeth Elvin
    • Ray Cooney - Out of Order
    • Susie Amy
    • Sue Holderness
    • Shaun Williamson
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher & Oliver Ormson
    • Geoff Norcott
    • Navi - King of Pop
    • Damian Williams Interview
    • Carrie Hope Fletcher Interview
    • Samantha Womack Interview
    • Les Dennis Interview
    • Clive Mantle - The Verdict
    • Stephen Bailey Interview
    • Steve Hackett Interview
    • Alastair Whatley - The Original Theatre Company
    • Paul Carrack Interview
    • Janine Johnson - Back to Bacharach Interview
    • Lewis Griffiths - Dirty Dancing
    • Ben Portsmouth Elvis Tribute
    • Paul Nicholls - Shawshank Redemption
    • Anne Odeke - Night Must Fall
    • Elaine Paige
    • Jimmy Osmond - Christmas Extravaganza
    • Brian Conley & Gok Wan
    • Jonathan Kiley - Qdos Pantomine Producer
    • Lee Mead - Some Enchanted Evening
    • Maximum Rhythm & Blues
    • Joe McElderry - Northern Light Tour
    • Carol Harrison - All or Nothing
    • Paul Cattermole - The Rocky Horror Show
    • Tommy Steele
    • Cheryl Baker - Formerly of Bucks Fizz
    • Gabrielle Cocca from Cats the Musical
    • PJ Proby Interview
    • Ashleigh & Pudsey - Mission ImPudseyble
    • I'm Cold - Alex Thorn
    • Mon Amie - supporting Jason Donovan
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
    • Richard Ede - The 39 Steps
    • Collabro
    • The Searchers
    • Fanny Galore
    • Paul Carrack
    • Rose Marie
    • Gary Wilmot, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson
    • Megan Terry
    • Sharon Rose - Little Eva in West End's Beautiful
    • Roy Chubby Brown - Britain's Rudest Comedian
    • Fascinating Aida's Dillie Keane
    • Ben Portsmouth - Elvis Tribute Artist
    • Ugly Sisters, Martin Ramsdin & David Robbins - Cinderella
    • Lauren Hall (Cinderella)
    • Michael Harrison, West End Producer
    • Brian Conley
    • Sharon Rose - X Factor
    • The Bodyguard - Zoe Birkett Interview
    • Alex Bourne (Daddy Warbucks)
    • Michael Corbidge Royal Shakespeare Company
    • Ashton Moore - Samson
    • Joe Pasquale
    • Phill Jupitus
    • Michael Sharp Playwright
    • Ray Cooney OBE
  • MUSIC
  • YOUTUBE
  • Features
    • Immersive Actor Training
    • Afternoon Tea at the Cliffs Pavilion
    • N-Act Theatre Stage - Village Green
    • Chameleon Productions
    • Sheku Kanneh-Mason
    • Aladdin - Panto Cast Announcement
    • Sounds Familiar Music Quiz
    • N-Act Theatre in Schools
    • Ray Cooney comes to see Lindisfarne perform his play
    • Theatre Etiquette
    • Leigh Operatic & Dramatic Society's Backstage Crew
Picture
Million Dollar Quartet
Cliffs Pavilion
13th March to 18th March 2017

Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of how record producer, Sam Phillips, brought together the four legendary rock n roll singers, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, into Sun Studios one December night in 1956 for a what would become one of the most famous jamming sessions in rock n roll history.  They were, it would seem, a rather disparate group with varied backgrounds but all had been discovered by Phillips through his Sun Records label.

Elvis Presley was already a huge star, although he had left Sun and gone over to RCA but he wanted to return to the Memphis studio.  Carl Perkins had originally written ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and made no bones about the fact that he was bitter about Elvis having more success with it than he did.  Johnny Cash only managed to get a recording contract with Sun after he switched from gospel to rockabilly and had already had hits with ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and ‘I Walk the Line’ by the time the impromptu jam session came about.  The least known of the four, at the time, was Jerry Lee Lewis.  He was a session musician for the studio but with his extraordinary style of piano playing, it wasn’t long before he would have a string of hits that would forge his rise to fame.

Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life and features a score of rock hits which bring you inside the recording studio with four major talents who came together as a red-hot rock 'n' roll band for one unforgettable night.  Million Dollar Quartet includes more than 20 legendary rock ‘n’ roll hits, including ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Hound Dog’, ‘I Walk The Line’ and ‘Great Balls of Fire’.

Based solely within the recording studio of the Sun Studios building, Jason Donovan plays Sam Phillips in which he documents the relevant moments leading up to the quartet meeting. This is done in a partly narrative style with flashbacks re-enacted within the studio setting.  

To be fair, it can’t have been easy for the writers of this production to create a show from just a one night session and the dialogue doesn't always sink in at times, to the point that you don’t really understand the relevance of the whole thing until at the end when the original photo is shown of the real musicians taken on that night.  It’s then that the goosebump moment comes when you realise that this was actually a really big deal.

What essentially makes the evening spectacular is the skill and talent of the actors playing the parts of these legendary musicians.  Ross William Wild as Elvis has all the mannerisms of what must have been Sun’s greatest discovery - close your eyes and listen to him singing and he is absolutely spot on.  Mathew Wycliffe as the, perhaps, not so well known Carl Perkins is fabulous with some really great guitar playing and Robbie Durham is so uncannily similar to Johnny Cash not only in looks but with that wonderfully deep and resonant voice.  The stand out performance though, has to go to Ashley Carruthers as the cheeky young upstart, Jerry Lee Lewis, who really gets to show off his piano playing skills.  All of these guys are massively talented musicians and everything is played live on stage.  Katy Ray as Dyanne, Elvis’s girlfriend also gets a chance to shine with some very impressive vocals.

Despite the fact that this was a night where history was made, the writing never really gives this production the theatrical dynamics to emotionally invest into the characters which is a shame, although things do pick up a bit during Act 2 with some interesting insights into each of the singer's backgrounds.  This show is without a doubt more about the music than the storytelling.  A highlight to the night is when, after the bows, we are treated to a kind of mini concert, which really gives the guys a chance to show off their playing skills and has a hugely appreciative audience up on their feet, dancing, singing and clapping along.

Something that I really didn’t appreciate, is that there are a lot of people out there who are clearly huge fans of rock 'n' roll and all that encompasses that 50s era.  Looking around at the Cliffs Pavilion’s opening night audience for Million Dollar Quartet, you could sense that there were a lot of people either enjoying this trip down memory lane or simply just taking in this musical history lesson.  Whichever way you look at it, you'll be treated to a great night of rock 'n' roll and the Southend audience certainly didn’t look disappointed.

For tickets to online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135
Ask the Audience
Anna Doube, Chelmsford

“I’ve been to Sun Studios and tonight it felt like I was there again.  The set is very real and very good set.  I loved them all but I thought Johnny Cash was very believable not just with his look but with his voice too.  I really enjoyed it!”
Picture
Anna & Jeanie with Matt Wycliffe who plays Johnny Cash
Jeanie Wilson, Billericay

“I go to a lot of rock ’n’ roll clubs quite regularly and go dancing every weekend, so I was really looking forward to seeing this.  I thought it was amazing, really the skill of the musicians is second to none.  They are so talented and such extraordinary musicians.  I thought it was really interesting and seeing it on stage just made if seem more real to me.  They didn’t deviate from the story.”
More about Matt!
Matt Wycliff has an album out now which is available to purchase at the Merchandise Stand in the Foyer at the Cliffs Pavilion.  For more information on Matt, who has starred in Jersey Boys, The Buddy Holly Story and was also in the original cast of The Commitments, find him on
Twitter @mattwycliffe
Facebook @mattwycliff
Instagram @mattwycliffe 
www.mattwycliffe.com

Home

About

MUSIC

INTERVIEWS

FEATURES

Copyright © 2015