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Mel’s Hard Luck Dinner between two shows
Branson Continues its Vast Variety
From ‘Moses’ to Million Dollar Quartet
By Bob Lindsey
During our recent weekend at the National Harvest and Cowboy Festival, running through Oct. 29 at Silver Dollar City, we had the opportunity to also see some of the popular new shows in Branson that continue to show the entertainment variety available
We opted for two productions that are at the opposite ends of the vast Branson entertainment spectrum, choosing the elaborate and moving Moses, playing on the massive stage at Sights & Sounds Theater, on our first night. The following evening we saw a rousing musical production of a Million Dollar Quartet at the Welk Theater. This was just after dinner at Branson’s favorite diner, Mel’s Hard Luck Diner where the waiters and waitresses sing as they serve you Mel’s home-cooking specialties like the large cheese-burger, mountains of fries and milk-shakes and malts served in metal tumblers (think Crown Candy in St. Louis’) Mel took over the diner at Grand Village ten years ago and he wanted to retain the performing servers, many who later launched singer careers in Branson and elsewhere.
Moses at Sights & Sounds Theater
Like the Biblical story of Moses, this production is a feat that’s almost hard to believe.
Divine intervention comes into play here and the life of perhaps the most essential human in the Old Testament begins with his mother wrapping him up in a blanket and sending him on a journey down the Nile in ancient Egypt.
The panoramic triple stage at the massive Sights & Sounds Theater is the only theater in the country where Moses could be followed through his life’s journey. We witnessed Moses leaving the royal palace where he was a prince, to “volunteering” to be a slave under the Pharaoh, encountering the burning bush, then receiving the tablet of Ten Commandments from God to the ultimate special effect— the parting of the Red Sea as he led the Hebrews out of Egypt and slavery.
Not only is the scale of this production astonishing, the special effects on stage, the 13 projectors that lead to the parting the Red Sea, accompanied by an original score from Hollywood veteran Don Harper (Lion King) , make it a life-time theatrical event. Add in the voices of live actors , plus dozens of animals ranging from horses, donkeys, sheep and even camels and it is an amazing and uplifting experience of almost Biblical proportions. For information/reservations: 800-377-1`277 or Sight-Sound.com
Million Dollar Quartet at Welk Theater
Legend has it that one night back in the late 1950s, four of the greatest singers of the era got together at the famed Sun Studios in Memphis for a jam session. No one is really sure what the conversation was like or what songs they played. Million Dollar Quartet is the musical score of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Elvis and the four talented actors/singers/ musicians who perform in this Branson production at the Welk Theater.
Record producer Sam Phillips signed these four music legends to Sun Record contracts and much of the show revolves about their lives and careers and Phillips’ effort to keep three of them under Sun Records contracts, as Elvis had already left for RCA Records, apparently before this jam session.
And what a jam session it was as the King, the Killer, the Man in Black and the King of
Rockabilly performed their many hits plus songs from other artists of the early Rock and Country era. There are even some Easy Listening hits included in the show.
The four performers in Million Dollar Quartet not only looked like the guys they played, they performed that way also with all the mannerism of the real guys.
We had seen the Tony Award winning musical at the Fox a few years ago and it rocked the old Fox theater. This production at Welk in Branson is more intimate, you’re close to the singers and the action. It leaves you wondering what songs were played and what actually happened that one and only night the four music giants jammed at the Sun Studios . They will be rockin’ out at least to the end of the year with shows most nights until New Year’s Eve. Visit MDQbranson.com or call (417) 336-SHOW for schedules and more information.
Raiding the Country Vault is new in Branson this year and one that we missed this time. The good news is it will be back again in 2017 featuring singers and musicians who have performed with the greats of Country Music. These talented performers have played with Patsy Cline, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens, Charlie Daniels Band , Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash,
Dolly Parton and others. You can bet they’re music is included in this new Branson show playing The Mansion Theatre, phone (417) 335-2000 or visit Raidingthecounryvalut.com.
