The Music of Johnny Cash

Ring of Fire

We have all experienced our own highs and lows throughout life. It’s safe to say that no one has sailed through the years without their share of sorrow and hardship, hopefully balanced by more joyful opportunities and happier times. The Man in Black, better known to his many fans as American Country-Western singer Johnny Cash, documented the ups and downs of life through his soulful music. 

Director Scott Weinstein’s vision for this 2006 jukebox musical begins by setting the concert-like show onto the front porch of a forgotten, rural, weathered clapboard train station. Angela Weber Miller’s impressive scenic design nicely fills the enormous Drury Lane stage. It’s built upon a turntable, so that the set often revolves and we see the interior of the structure, that serves as the Grand Ole Opry, as well as other performances venues and recording studios. These locations are further established through Anthony Churchill’s period-perfect projections, which shine like memories through the doors and windows of the building

Johnny Cash came from humble beginnings. He was born to poor cotton farmers in rural Arkansas. The singer/guitarist rose to fame during the growing rockabilly music scene in Memphis. 

He was known for his deep, calm and gravelly bass-baritone vocals. Cash was often backed by the distinctive, train-chugging guitar rhythms of his band, the Tennessee Three. His music embraced almost every genre: country, rock & roll, rockabilly, blues, folk and gospel. Johnny Cash’s thousands of songs are filled with themes of sorrow and moral redemption, but also joyful words and melodies about falling in love, traveling the country and just plain silly humor. Cash became one of the best-selling musical talents nationwide of all time. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy was inducted into the Country, Rock and Roll and Gospel Music Halls of Fame before his death in 2003.

Mr. Weistein has cast six gifted, multitalented 

singer/musicians to tell Cash’s life story through song and snatches of dialogue. His highly entertaining production will certainly set hands clapping and feet tapping, thanks to the expert Music Director from Chuck Mead. Scott Weinstein leads his company with Ron E. Rains, a veteran actor/singer/musician, and Chicago favorite, portraying the Man in Black. Mr. Rains is absolutely convincing as Johnny Cash in his later years. He begins the show with a song. Then he reminisces about a lifetime filled with people and events, accenting both the highs and lows of of his 71 years, as well as his auspicious career. Mr. Rains, who will be recognized from his 11 seasons at the Goodman Theatre playing a funny, often heartbreaking Bob Cratchit, actually looks and sounds very much like the iconic singer. His expertise as a musician is remarkable, and he literally strums the strings off his guitar, at one point. And Ron has neatly mastered Cash’s walk and his deep, monotone speaking and singing voice. Audiences will think they’ve magically been transported back in time.

Having portrayed both Elvis and Johnny Cash in many productions and national tours of “Million Dollar Quartet,” handsome Michael D. Potter plays the younger version of the Man in Black. Looking, sounding, singing and strumming his guitars in the manner of the famous performer, Mr. Potter is simply astounding and not to be missed. The young man shows his talent on the harmonica, as well. Lovely Aja Wiltshire is perfectly cast as June Carter Cash. Providing plenty of outstanding, authentic-sounding vocal solos, Ms. Wiltshire also provides the harmonies in many of the songs and plays the autoharp and provides the percussion for other numbers.

The three ensemble members who provide back up vocals and lead instrumentals include the brilliant violin virtuoso, Elleon Dobias. Like Ron E. Rains, this actor/singer/musician-extraordinaire, who plays Viv, was recently seen fiddling her fingers off in Writer Theatre’s excellent production of “Once.” Filled with grace and sweetness, Ms. Dobias brings a certain allure to this production. Erik Hellman, Captain Von Trapp in Marriott’s  recent production of “The Sound of Music,” is Luther. This actor is unbelievably versatile, in both his singing and instrumental expertise. He’s excellent on acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin and rhythm instruments, and he plays Johnny’s younger brother early in Act I. And as Marshall, a veritable master of the bass, Roy James Brown, who also has an incredible singing voice, gives the score some of its more subtle, pulsating rhythms.

Conceived by William Meade, this jukebox musical revue is the creation of Broadway’s Richard Maltby, Jr. It’s a fragmented autobiography of the life of the Man in Black. The charm of the show is that it’s told almost entirely through the songs made famous Johnny Cash. Often presented in a smaller venue, Angela Weber Miller’s large, versatile scenic design manages to fill the Drury Lane stage and bring a surprising intimacy to this production. Brilliantly costumed by Izumi Inaba, with ever-changing hair and wig designs by Megan Pirtle, this is an entertaining two hours of songs that include such hits as “Jackson,” “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” “In the Sweet Bye and Bye,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line” and, of course, “A Boy Named Sue.”       

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented August 30-October 22 by Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Drury Lane box office, by calling 630-530-0111 or by going to www.DruryLaneTheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area shows may be found at www.theatreinchicago.com.