SHOWS built around a bunch of hot songs are ten a dime, but this Rock ‘n’ Roll Musical, about an extraordinary jam is something special.

On December 4, 1956, a group of bona fide and emerging stars met for an impromptu session at the studio of Sam Phillips, the man who gave them the keys to fame and fortune.

They were Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and joining in was a cheeky young pianist – Jerry Lee Lewis.

The show is the story of that incredible night, told through the music they played and through Sam Phillips’ character, played by Jason Donovan.

Donovan was soldiering through, having had to miss the opening night due to ill health but his trooper energy and sensitive performance made us cheer him all the more.

The show is very well-written, with Phillips particularly getting some killer aphorisms – about Rock 'n' Roll and the men who played it and his search for those who could ‘light a fire under a song’.

The quartet got the chance to show off their talents as musicians, with Ashley Carruthers cleaning up the ivories like a legend.

Guitars were shredded all over the place and in their performances, Robbie Durham really shone as Johnny Cash, with a voice from the depths of the ocean and a real integrity and depth to the character.

The music is played live, I’m not convinced all of it is from onstage, what with an electric guitar without electricity and Carl Perkins actor Matthew Wycliffe’s big beaming smile in the encore when he got to change guitars!

But John Maher’s musical wizardry as Musical Supervisor & Fixer (whatever that is) meant that the music was superb and the audience had a complete blast.

Sarah Scott

  • Till Saturday 11th March 2017
  • For tickets go to www.theatreroyal.co.uk or telephone 08448 11 21 21