Margie and I saw this 95-minute Best Musical nominee via the lottery. I didn't quite know what to expect other than its being a somewhat fictitious re-enactment of a get-together at Sam Phillips' Sun Records by the kings of '50s rockabilly: Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. Starting slowly, it began to build and pretty soon I was getting into the groove of the boisterous sounds of nascent rock 'n' roll.

With a group like that, you'd expect the focus to be Elvis or maybe Johnny Cash. Not so--when someone with the charisma of Levi Kreis plays Jerry Lee Lewis. The show seemed to derive its mojo largely from his energetic, ingratiating performance. I can see why he was nominated for a Tony. Interestingly, he looks almost exactly like a younger Harry Connick, Jr.

The plot, such as it is, simply conveys what purportedly happened on Dec. 5, 1956, when the four clients--some current, some former, some about to be former--of recording impresario Sam Phillips gathered in his studio one last time. But the music, not the story, is paramount in this show. It's exhilaratingly performed and left me in a very "up" mood. Great Balls of Fire, indeed.

I liked it more than MEMPHIS, which I think will likely win the prize over MDQ, FELA and AMERICAN IDIOT.

Ellen

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mamaleh,

A good time was had by all -- certainly by the person sitting behind me -- I felt like I had a semi-vibrating chair through most of the show from the second row toe tapping!

The casting director should be congratulated selecting performers who could represent iconic music legends without falling back on a simple impersonation. While Hunter Foster was fine as Sam Phillips, I confess I did watch the show at times imagining how Christian Hoff would have been in the part: Annette, Lynette, and I spoke to him briefly at Sardi's last year (during the run of ASR) and he had just come from auditioning for the Phillips role and was very excited about the prospect.

The show's web site had a couple of videos.

One minor correction Ellen: the event took placed on December 4th, not the 5th (if not, I want my money back on my souvenir magnet, LOL). Interestingly, this gathering took place between the three appearances Elvis made on the Ed Sullivan Show between September 1956 and early January 1957. True story: one of my earliest memories is of me sitting on the living room floor watching Elvis' final appearance on the Sullivan show, and hearing my mother say to my father "Oh look, they only showing him from the waist up!" This was 2 weeks before my 3rd birthday, and yes, Elvis was indeed my "first love."

Margie

Pardon my typo. Your magnet is, of course, omniscient.

At least Elvis is an understandable first love. Mine was Liberace when I was five. Perception was obviously not my strong suit.

Ellen

I remember and liked Elvis when I was little, but actually didn't become a huge fan until 1968 after his "comeback" special (I was 13) My first love was at age 8 (almost 9)--THE BEATLES!

Nancy

My husband and I saw this last week, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I was quite disappointed when I learned that Levi Kreis would not be performing, but his understudy, Jared Mason, was terrific in the role. The talent in this cast is just incredible.