FLAT ROCK — The “Million-Dollar Quartet,” based on a true story, proved to be a crowd-pleaser for the Flat Rock Playhouse during its recent run that ended May 21 on the mainstage.

A number of soldout shows were reported, but the attendance on May 13, when the Daily Planet reviewed the musical, filled more than 300 of the 506 seats.

The show tells of a time — Dec. 4, 1956 — when the stars were truly in alignment and Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash performed in a jam session that lasted less than two hours. Afterward, the four men each went on to sell millions of records for RCA Records and Columbia Records.

The quartet’s portrayals featured athletic, even acrobatic efforts — all while playing their instruments.

Three of the portrayals of the stars were spot-on, including that of Lewis (Nat Zegree), Perkins (Jeremy Sevelovitz) and Cash (Johnny Kinnaird).

Zegree’s vivid and bouncing portrayal of Lewis stood out as the show’s single best element, although Kinnaird’s Cash was a surprisingly realistic presence on the stage. 

Specifically, Kinnaird, who (of course) was clad in black boots, black jeans and a long-sleeve black shirt, looked and sounded (with his sonorous, gravelly voice) just like Cash, especially when he says — dropping his voice low —  “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

Puzzlingly, Elvis, played by Christopher Fordinal, did not look anything close to his part — the best-known and loved of the quartet. Therefore, Fordinal was less believable in his role as the boy from Tupelo, Miss., who eventually would become known as “the king of rock ‘n’ roll” with his singing and hip-swinging.

Interestingly, the show does present Perkins’ jealousy of Presley over the latter’s much-bigger hit with “Blue Suede Shoes” — a song written (and orginally performed) by Perkins.

Also, each of the quartet members credited black musicians for inspiring and, in some cases, mentoring them as youths.

Asheville’s Willie Repoly turned in a credible performance as Sam Phillips, owner of Sun Record Studio.

Yet another performer in the production, wasp-waisted Dyanne (Ryah Nixon), shows up for the jam session on the arm of Elvis — and then proves to be more than just arm candy, as she delivers renditions of some songs in a powerful and beautiful way.

Those playing the four lead male musical roles not only played their own instruments (guitars, except for Lewis on piano), they played them superbly.

They were backed by a bass player (Eric Scott Anthony) and drummer (Paul Babelay).

Director James Moye did a terrific job in shaping the show’s actors into an effective musical ensemble. 

Besides “Blue Suede Shoes,” some of the other 20-plus songs featured in the musical were “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Great Balls of Fire,”  “Hound Dog,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Matchbox,” “Who Do You Love?” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Down By the Riverside,” “Peace in the Valley,” “I Walk the Line” and “See You Later, Alligator.”

“Million-Dollar Quartet,” billed (accurately) as “high voltage,” is a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.