Review: 'Million Dollar Quartet' at Seven Angels

Pictured: JERRY LEE LEWIS: Dominique Scott, CARL PERKINS: Jeremy Sevelovitz, ELVIS: Cole,JOHNNY CASH: Sky Seals & DYANE: Teresa Danskey Photo courtesy of Seven Angels

“It’s not every day I get a million dollar quartet in my studio.” - Sam Phillips

Waterbury, CT - Seven Angels is bringing the Broadway hit ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ to Waterbury through November 26. The production of this musical with the music of the fifties is dedicated to the memory of John “J.B.” Bunnell, the host of JB’s Solid Gold Rock and Roll Party on WATR-AM and a dear friend of 7A. With his Sunday evening radio program, J.B. fulfilled his goal of keeping the music that he loved alive.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is a jukebox musical essentially based upon a photo taken of the first and only impromptu jam session between four musical legends in the Sun Records Studios in Memphis, Tennessee on December 4, 1956. What started out as a recording session for Carl Perkins with his brothers Clayton and Jay and drummer W.S. Holland, by chance turned into a jam session including a young Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. The taking of the well-known photo by Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records often dubbed “the Father of Rock and Roll,” is actually reenacted during the show.

The musical features 23 hits from the era performed authentically by the mostly Equity actors that masterfully play their own instruments onstage. The musical legends back each other up and blend beautifully on some gospel tunes like “Down by the Riverside” and “Peace in the Valley.” There are also plenty of solos for each of the stars of their classic hits; “Blue Suede Shoes,’ written by Perkins but made famous by Elvis, is always performed by the entire quartet.

The show is not without some resentment among the four singers and the owner of the small recording studio; Elvis has already signed with RCA when he drops into the Sun studio with a girlfriend. Mr. Phillips himself has been offered a deal to follow Elvis to RCA and the young Jerry Lee Lewis can help but be both eager and a bit crazy.

The Seven Angels production was directed by Artistic Director Semina De Laurentis and features a spectacular cast of singing/instrument-playing actors. She writes in her notes that because the performers have worked with so many directors in so many other productions of MDQ, her job was simply bringing them together, guiding them and adapting it for the 7A stage. Actor Dominique Scott (Jerry Lee Lewis) served as the music director and he was assisted by the actor Cole (Elvis Presley.) The book was written by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux with original concepts and direction by Mr. Mutrux, all inspired by this ultimate quartet.

It felt like the audience was invited to have a peek at a concert that could never have happened on Earth. For the men, the costumes designed by Claire Gaudette evoked the character they were channeling; they spent most of the show in their take on street clothes for the studio session and then changed to sparkly jackets for the finale. The only lady added a circle skirt over her blue dress. Carl Perkins actually wore a pair of shoes done in blue suede. I wasn’t a fan of the hair for Jerry Lee Lewis, but Elvis’ was perfectly coiffed. The set designed by Daniel Husvar evoked the original storefront studio, if a bit expanded for the stage, and it was nicely lit by Matt Guminski. Matt Martin was in his usual place in charge of the excellent sound design.
Jeremy Sevelovitz, a Hartt School of Music graduate, returned to Seven Angels to play the brash Carl Perkins. He has played this role and that of Johnny Cash in various regional productions.

Sky Seals, an actor who is also a composer of musicals, was a standout in the role of Johnny Cash, just as I remembered him in his performance at Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, NY. The audience loved his signature songs. This marks Mr. Seals’ seventh production of MDQ and I honestly cannot imagine another actor playing the man in black with more authenticity or charm.

Dominique Scott nearly stole the show as he did at Westchester Broadway Theatre as the over the top Jerry Lee Lewis. Constantly moving as much as the original Jerry Lee and playing the piano like no one else, this actor is a joy to watch. That is, when the audience isn’t chuckling at his antics or his turn of phrase. Kudos to this young man on a role that clearly was meant for him, not to mention an outstanding job in his role as music director.

Cole (just “Cole”) played the young Elvis Presley with the just the right amount of homage, so as not to rise to an impersonation. A recording artist and songwriter in his own right, he covered the role of Elvis (and Johnny Cash) at Harrah’s Casino in Las Vegas and at several other locations.

Jason Loughlin made his 7A debut and gave a very strong performance as the studio owner that the young singers always addressed as “Mr. Phillips;” he was at his best as he explained how he discovered each of the four musicians, and then as he often chastised the out of control Jerry Lee Lewis. From my front row seat, I was truly able to appreciate his performance even more than when I saw him in the role at Westchester Broadway Theatre.

Teresa Danskey sang wonderfully as Elvis’ gorgeous girlfriend Dyanne in her 7A debut; at the real session, Elvis' girlfriend was a dancer, Marilyn Evans.

Perry Orfanella played it straight on the upright bass as Mr. Perkin’s “Brother Jay” in his 7A debut. His bio concludes with the line “While not expecting to win any awards himself, his goal on stage is to not embarrass his children, who have the talent in the family.” Speaking of family, WCSU student Peter Ryan’s father Mark, the resident drummer at 7A, got to play the onstage drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland. The freelance percussionist, church musician and high school band director (and WCSU grad) from Watertown played his heart out and even had a few lines.

Overall ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ is a wonderful string of memorable songs from the fifties that the matinee crowd heartily enjoyed. They were on their feet for the final four classic numbers (“Hound Dog,” “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” “See You Later, Alligator” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’”) and loved the audience interaction and blindfolded piano playing by the music director. The latter was essentially what the actor/musician had done throughout the show, but I was probably the only one that noticed.

A memorial for JB Bunnell will be held at Seven Angels Theatre on Nov. 12 at 6:00pm.

New Directions to Seven Angels Theatre using I-84 Eastbound

There is a detour to exit 25 eastbound. Use exit EB 23 off-ramp and then follow exit 25 detour signs to the new ramp to Harpers Ferry Road.
• EB Exit 25 off-ramp traffic will exit at the EB 23 off-ramp and follow the detour signs.

• Traffic will split further ahead with EB 23 off-ramp traffic staying to the right and EB 25 off-ramp traffic and I-84 EB on-ramp staying to the left.

• After that split, I-84 EB traffic will proceed straight ahead while EB 25 off-ramp traffic will fork to the right, where it will proceed on the new ramp alignment under the Hamilton Avenue Bridge and continue for 3/4 mile where it will meet up with Harpers Ferry Road. Turn left at the light at the end of the ramp and follow to Plank Road. Take left on Plank Road and follow to Theatre.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ runs through November 26 and there is a large silent auction running in the 7A lobby with a wide variety of donated items. One is a large poster of the production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ signed by all of the members of the cast.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417