Million Dollar Quartet | The Arts at Marble Arch

Million Dollar Quartet at The Arts at Marble Arch is one seriously fun night of rock ’n’ roll. Set around the legendary 1956 recording session at Sun Records in Memphis, the musical brings together four young musical giants: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, who famously found themselves in the same room for one unforgettable evening. What follows is a whole lot of music, personality, rivalry, humour and enough rock ’n’ roll energy to make sitting still feel like a bit of a challenge.

And what a cast. Sam Phillips, played by Darren Day, is effortlessly cool. He completely owns the role, bringing just the right amount of charm, authority and laid back confidence to the man behind the Sun Records sound. Honestly, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else stepping into the part and making it feel quite so natural. Connor Payne’s Elvis Presley has the swagger down to a tee. He captures the unmistakable presence of the King without turning it into a caricature and there’s a real sense of star quality whenever he’s on stage. You can absolutely see why Elvis had the room, and eventually the world, wrapped around his little finger.

Christopher Erasmus as Johnny Cash is a standout. His voice is deep, rich and wonderfully gravelly. He makes those famously low Cash tones sound completely effortless. There’s a lovely stillness to his performance too, which works beautifully against some of the bigger personalities bouncing around him. Then there’s Joe Bence as Jerry Lee Lewis, who is an absolute joy. Funny, cheeky and incredibly likeable, he brings bags of personality to the stage. And, of course, there’s the piano playing. Watching him attack the keys is half the fun.

Joey Bradick’s Carl Perkins fits the character perfectly, bringing a great balance to the quartet and making the dynamic between these four very different performers all the more entertaining. And Jenay Naima as Dyanne is a revelation. What a powerhouse of a voice, which absolutely commands the stage.

The chemistry between the cast is what really makes the show tick. There’s plenty of banter and humour but underneath all of that is the fascinating story of four huge personalities in one room, each with their own sound, ambitions and egos. It’s part gig, part musical and part backstage glimpse into a moment when music history was being made almost by accident.

And the music is unsurprisingly the star of the show. From the moment the band kicks in, the atmosphere completely changes. By the end, the audience are absolutely boogying in their seats and once the cast had taken their bows, they came back for a few more songs at which point any remaining attempts at staying seated seemed to disappear. People were dancing away, the energy was infectious and it felt less like watching a musical and more like being at a very good rock ’n’ roll party.

There’s something wonderfully old school about Million Dollar Quartet. No complicated gimmicks needed, just great musicians, big personalities, brilliant songs and a cast who clearly know how to entertain. A hugely enjoyable evening, packed with talent, charm and plenty of toe tapping moments. If you like your theatre with a side order of rock ’n’ roll, this is one to put on your list.

And good news for anyone outside London: the UK tour continues beyond its London run, so there are plenty more chances to catch this musical slice of rock ’n’ roll history.

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Alex Tabrizi