Review: Million Dollar Quartet at The Arts at Marble Arch Theatre

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Four Stars)

Amidst an array of framed gold records, the clock on the wall of the recording studio impressively recreated (by set designer Libby Watson) onstage at The Arts at Marble Arch reads “December 4th 1956”. It was on this date that four artists - Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley - converged on Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, and rock’n’roll history was made. Million Dollar Quartet, which enjoyed a well-received run at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester prior to its stint in London and will subsequently be touring the UK, invites its audience into the recording studio to experience the music and the atmosphere of that evening. While perhaps the show could benefit from widening its scope a little and providing more in the way of plot, there is no doubt that Million Dollar Quartet is highly entertaining, showcasing impressive and energetic performances that rock’n’roll fans are sure to appreciate. 

It’s no easy feat to portray such recognisable figures in music history. However, each of the four performers comprising the quartet captures their distinct style and manages to find comedy in their performance, without veering into caricature - a testament both to their skills and to the work of director Jonathan O’Boyle. Connor Payne’s Elvis Presley has the mannerisms and presence you would expect of the young man who would go on to become The King of rock’n’roll, at this stage of his career at a crossroads between making music and movies. As Johnny Cash, Christopher Erasmus captures the character’s inner conflict as he makes a difficult choice to progress his career, while Joey Bradick as Carl Perkins believably captures Perkins’ resentment towards his peers who are experiencing more success than him. A stand-out within the cast is Joe Bence as Jerry Lee Lewis, who provides many of the comedic moments in Million Dollar Quartet through Lewis’ naivety, lack of self-awareness and seemingly unending energy. 

Each of these four performers is strong in their own right, but the real magic happens when they join together to harmonise on songs such as Down By The Riverside and Peace In The Valley, which sound excellent under musical supervisor Lee Freeman. Audiences can also expect to hear many of their favourite crowd-pleasing songs from the artists throughout the jukebox show, including Blue Suede Shoes, Folsom Prison Blues, Great Balls of Fire and Hound Dog. The performers on stage are not only singing these numbers though. Alongside on-stage bassist Geraint Downing and drummer Josh Haberfield, they each simultaneously play their own instruments live on stage as they perform. It’s an impressive feat of actor-musicianship that truly sells to the audience that - much like the people they are portraying - these performers are the real deal. They are also joined by Darren Day as producer Sam Phillips, who functions as the show’s narrator, and Jenay Naima as Dyanne, who brings the house down with her impressive vocals in I Hear You Knockin’.

If you’re a fan of rock’n’roll, Million Dollar Quartet offers a rare opportunity to feel like a fly on the wall for a rare moment in the genre’s history. Equally, if you’re not familiar with these artists and their discographies, there is much to enjoy about the show and it would be hard to imagine anyone not moved to dance and cheer by the full-out curtain call numbers. 

Million Dollar Quartet runs at The Arts at Marble Arch until 6th December 2026 ahead of a UK tour.

Photos by Alex Tabrizi