Temple Theatre In Sanford Sizzles With Johnny Cash Tribute Show ‘Ring Of Fire’

Sanford's Temple Theatre continues to dazzle audiences with its milestone centennial season. After a highly successful run of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to open the season, the Temple team shifted color palettes with Ring Of Fire, paying homage to the legendary Man in Black Johnny Cash. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAUPMY8uuY3/ Capturing The Role Of Johnny Cash I recently attended opening night for Ring Of Fire, and was pleasantly surprised by its execution. Having never seen previous productions of this particular show, I had naturally assumed that the role of Cash would be played by a singular performer who bore a passable enough likeness. Previous jukebox musicals at the Temple played out this way when it came to portraying music legends like Patsy Cline and Jerry Lee Lewis. However, Ring Of Fire offers something a little different than what audiences would likely go in expecting. Rather than the role belonging to a single performer, J.R.'s timeless music was beautifully performed by multiple musicians, each of whom managed to capture a different component of Cash's mystique. It's an interesting subversion that one learns to love the further into the show they go. After all, putting the restrained charisma, emotional nuance, and musical heft of this particular American icon on a single actor through an entire show is a tall order for even the Joaquin-iest of Phoenixes. Spreading out Cash's unmatched persona across six different musicians is the perfect way to pay tribute to the Man in Black's unique aura and brand of showmanship. This casting style also allowed each member to showcase their own musical versatility as well. Often times you'd catch them trading off guitars, mandolins, drumkits, and piano seats as often as they traded the microphone. This helped set an eclectic and highly entertaining pace all throughout the show's robust two-hour duration. The Music It should go without saying, but the actual music in Ring Of Fire is exemplary. The vast range of instrumental and vocal talent among the cast was on full display, with each of the six cast members stepping into the spotlight for individual performances. The show features 30 of Johnny Cash's most beloved hits. While every song was performed with great care and enthusiasm from the cast, the standout performance for me was Melody Allegra Berger and Nolan LeMay's moving duet of "Flesh and Blood," which genuinely gave me goosebumps. Taylor Pietz's mournful rendition of Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" will also make you wish they handed out tissues at the Temple box office. Being a jukebox musical centered around one of the best singers to ever do it, you certainly don't have to worry about the show lacking when it comes to Cash's rich discography. Critiques I honestly don't have much to complain about with this show. The only thing of note during my viewing was the minor sound issues that plagued much of the first act. At certain intervals the sound of mic feedback would hum through the venue, momentarily shifting the audience's attention from the actual performance. To their credit, however, the actors never waivered when this happened. Their commitment to keeping the performance as immersive as possible in the face of technical issues was enough to keep it from hampering my overall enjoyment of the show. Final Thoughts If you're looking for a deep exploration into Johnny Cash's psyche, this isn't that kind of show. If you're looking for an in-depth look at the everlasting love between Cash and his beloved wife June Carter, you won't find it at this show (save for a beautiful duet performance of "If I Were A Carpetner" by Taylor Pietz and Michael Amoroso). This is not a biopic. It isn't Walk The Line. There are no extravagant set designs, nor are there flashy lighting arrangements. Such frivolities would betray the spirit of Johnny Cash and diminish the core value of what his artistry sought to bring to the world: three chords and the truth. Ring Of Fire is exactly what it has to be. It is a celebration of one of the most influential American crooners of all time. The chemistry among the cast is as apparent as their deep love and admiration for the Man in Black, and will most assuredly take great care of your favorite Johnny Cash tunes. Temple Theatre's Ring Of Fire is running October 10-27. Visit templeshows.com for details and tickets. KC's Final Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars