PEORIA, IL -- The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas show boogied onto the Peoria Civic Center Theater stage on Nov. 28 and plays again there on Nov. 29. It's an OK show but not great.
The show is based on the historic meeting of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. This show has them complaining about the music business, which is to say there's no plot, just a lot of cone pone comments and dozens of 'aint's in weak dialogue.
The music they play is much better. The performers are skilled musicians rather than skilled actors. They turn traditional Christmas songs into rock numbers that are lively and well performed.
The set and especially the lighting are cleverly done. But there's that old fatal flaw for this series of shows in Peoria, no printed programs so it's impossible to know who the performers are, especially the strongest one, a woman who can act as well as sing.
There's no intermission for this 90 minute show, and a surprise ending.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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