Review: Rocking Out to the Life of Johnny Cash with RING OF FIRE at CCTC

Even if you are not the most familiar with the music of Johnny Cash, everyone is undoubtedly aware of at least one facet of the life of this music legend: whether that be something of his career that lasted into the early 2000's, those songs that everyone can immediately attribute to Cash's genius or the troubles that plagued him during his musical success, alongside she who saved him from irrevocable harm. Cash was a singer and songwriter with a passion for creating music that brought him both fame and solace throughout his entire life. Although Cash is not of my era, there is little reason why such a life as this man lived cannot be a source of inspiration and wonder to anyone who is the least bit inquisitive as to the story of Johnny Cash. Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Cash in the 2005 bio-epic Walk the Line is beautiful in that it not only provides greater insight into this man's rather miraculous life, but it also shows who he was in light of what he was - taken from a biography featured by Rolling Stone which I felt couldn't have said it better, Cash was "a minimalist with a booming Old Testament baritone who could wrench an abundance of power from stark settings...those songs laden with pathos, whimsy, regret, hope, lust and fury."

The Cape Cod Theatre Company, home of the Harwich Junior Theatre, has decided to step away traditional staged storytelling and try something different with its newest "jukebox" production of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash. Created by Richard Maltby, Jr and hereby directed and choreographed by Pamela C. Wills, with Nina K. Schuessler serving as Producing Artistic Director, Ring of Fire is a story within and through a performance, and this production has the unique ability to depict the lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter, complete with interchangeable characters and interspersed moments of chronological storytelling, in a way I could image they would have approved of themselves: simple, straightforward and even stark (how fitting that word is) in its presentation but so oddly appropriate for the unadorned but deeply affecting way Cash's music hits you. Those on stage are not "acting" to portray these music legends, but instead almost seem to hand themselves over to the audience's belief that this is not a presentation or something that is purely meant to entertain; they are there to tell a story, and with a wonderfully eclectic mix of songs played in the background, there is something so beautiful in the rawness of this entire production.

So saying, this is still one wildly entertaining show that will have you not only feeling the poignant songs of Cash and Carter that have made both the legends they are deemed today, but also have you clapping along to such favorites as "I Walk the Line" and "Jackson" - songs that people of many generations can simply and thoroughly enjoy. Many of these songs have a certain weight to them - a sometimes distressing, sometimes emotional sensation that makes you want to listen to Cash's words and bring yourself to understand what he is singing about. Whether that be the experience of a child involved in the flooding of his home in "Five Feet High and Rising," the rather untraditional take on the "love song" through the message of "Cry, Cry, Cry," the speculation of a man in prison through the words of "Folsom Prison Blues" (one of the songs, and the title of said album, which Cash would visit different prisons and perform) and of course, "Man in Black" in which he sings about the unfortunate and downtrodden - perhaps about others, perhaps about himself.

With a very minimalist but appropriate set put in place for representing the venue it is meant to and allowing the audience to imagine where it is during this performance, with the band on stage and rocking out to their own music and the lives they are meant to portray in the making of it all and with the combined efforts of a very talented group of actors and musicians, Ring of Fire does well to bring the music of Cash and Carter to a Cape Cod audience that is without doubt enjoying its time in the era of Johnny Cash thus far.

Performing in this show are Terrence Brady, Kym Edson, Sheila Furtado, Gavin Rice, Dick Stocks, Thomas Petruso and Malcom Granger (who will play for Dick Stocks during Memorial Day weekend performances). Mr. Brady is an absolute joy to watch on stage, regardless of the show he is in, yet with this performance, he did well to capture the essence of Cash and bring both himself and his famed alter ego the stage. Not only does he have a great baritone voice for the role, he is also so effortlessly able to convey whatever the "aura" of the song is meant to; he seems to understand the significance of the songs he sings (having done his research I'm sure), and is very able to so naturally capture who Johnny Cash was not only as a performer, but as a person. When asked about his involvement in this production, he stated that "I think all of us felt an obligation to tell his story through his songs. He lived a hard life, struggled with addiction and the trappings of fame but through the grace of God and June Carter he emerged a better man and felt a responsibility to those less fortunate and a kinship with those who made similar mistakes." With his rather well-known knack for providing the perfect facial expression for every moment, he really is quite the star on CCTC's stage.

Kym Edson, who was hilarious in CCTC's rather recent production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, lends her wonderful voice as Terrence's female counterpart and delivers a powerful performance throughout the entirety of the show. She is a very talented performer and does well to complement the others who make this production what it is. Gavin Rice on vocals, upright bass, violin, mandolin and banjo is absolutely amazing...and for someone so young! He is quite the talented musician and he adds more of an innocent quality to the show; if he can just be more confident and sing/proclaim his lines with the confidence he undoubtedly must have in both himself and the role he plays. Just continue studying as you are because everyone sees that you're a wonderful musician! Dick Stocks and Sheila Furtado on vocals and guitar are given their chance to not only absolutely rock out on in the background and provide the music that brings this production to life, but they are also given a chance to perform vocally and not only add to the talent on stage, but also to that of the story being told. Last but not least, Thomas Petruso in the percussion section is the loner in the background, but is the loudest of the bunch...bravo.

Big kudos to Kristin Stewart as Costume Designer, Marc O. Whitman as Scenic Designer, David Wilson on Light Design and J. Hagenbuckle on Sound!

The Cape Cod Theatre Company's (HJT's) production of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash is a good time to be had at the theater, especially if you continue to enjoy the music of Johnny Cash. CCTC is located at 105 Division Street in West Harwich, MA. Performances began on May 12th and will continue thru June 12th. Tickets are $25 (under 21 $15) and can be purchased by visiting http://capecodtheatrecompany.org/ or by calling (508) 432-2002. Drinks and refreshments will be sold during intermission.

Come support a wonderful theater and enjoy the show!

Photo Credit: Nina K. Schuessler

Quote Citation: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/johnny-cash/biography

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