“Million Dollar Quartet” Rocks Cape Playhouse

Goodness, gracious, there was a “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” at the Cape Playhouse Wednesday on opening night of the Tony Award-winning hit “Million Dollar Quartet.”

The second production in the Cape Playhouse’s 98th year, the show nearly got delayed as the theater and the town of Dennis experienced a power outage on opening night. Newly appointed Artistic Director Eric Rosen welcomed the audience and explained that despite running the show on a generator and rigging makeshift lighting, the show must go on. And with the open-air breeze and a packed house, boy did it ever.

You are in for a real treat with “Million Dollar Quartet.” Hunter Foster, the celebrated Broadway actor, director, playwright and singer, is back at the Playhouse directing this production after serving as guest artistic director last year. The show is a jukebox musical that pulls you back in time to December 1956 in Memphis, Tenn. at the independent recording studio, Sun Records. Pioneered by rock music renowned producer Sam Phillips, the studio saw the genesis of four legendary musicians who would go on to forever change the landscape of the music industry: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. “Million Dollar Quartet” is a snapshot in musical history when one evening these four artists come together for the impromptu jam session of a lifetime. It was one epic and unforgettable night of music and friendship.

The cast of “Million Dollar Quartet” was electric, especially considering every actor on stage is also a crazy talented musician. They each play the music with excitement, heart and fierce passion. Alessando Gian Vivano plays Elvis Presley and encapsulates so many of the quintessential gestures and hip-shaking dance moves that we all know and love. Vivano is wildly entertaining as he flawlessly portrayed “The King” with an infectious smile and a suave coolness. Scott Moreau plays the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. He oozes all of Cash’s swagger and remarkably has played the famed musician more than 1200 times in his career. Playing the iconic singer, songwriter and guitarist Carl Perkins is Jeremy Sevelovitz, a massively talented, multi-instrumentalist with loads of regional performances under his belt. Try taking your eyes off of Nat Zegree during the show; it’s impossible. The amount of sheer humor and wild talent he brings to the role of Jerry Lee Lewis is outstanding. Rounding out the phenomenal cast is Megan Reinking as Dyanne and Chance Michael Wall as producer Sam Phillips, as well as Matt Spencer on the drums as Fluke and Nathan Yates Douglass on bass playing Brother Jay.

The show runs about one hour and 40 minutes with one intermission and includes hit after hit: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I walk the Line,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Hound Dog,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and many more. By the end of the show, the cast had the audience up on their feet dancing and singing along to the three-song encore and wishing the show wasn't about to end. Get on your “Blue Suede Shoes” and get ready to rock, shimmy and jive at “Million Dollar Quartet!”