"Ring of Fire" - Battle Creek Enquirer, Summer 2010, Cornwell's Dinner Theatre,Michigan

Cast succeeds in combined Cash tribute

Battle Creek Enquirer - Battle Creek, Mich.
Author: Christopher Tower
Date: Aug 15, 2010


When music legend Johnny Cash died in 2003, his loving fans thought they would never see him again. Though "Ring of Fire" does not feature Johnny Cash himself -- or even an impersonator -- his spirit can be seen in every note of this theatrical concert at Cornwell's Turkeyville dinner theater.

Staged by Top Hat Productions, a cast of nine musicians and performers bring to life the music of John R. Cash with great skill, energy and emotional intensity. Though the show skimps on biographical details of Cash's life, the music provides all that is lacking in terms of story.

The show, running through Sept. 4, opens with a musical number that makes clear there will be no one imitating Johnny Cash. Instead, all of the performers are Johnny Cash. This intelligent arrangement allows director Dennis W. McKeen to arrange performers in duets, trios and other sets that best serve each song.

Ben Jackson returns to Cornwell's after a two-year hiatus with deep bass renditions of songs such as "Big River," "Folsum Prison Blues" and "Ragged Old Flag" -- sure to give pleasant shivers up and down the spine. Amber Burgess, who is spending the year at Cornwell's, demonstrates strong vocal talents and shows off her celerity with the fiddle throughout the show.

The main band backing these performers includes Athens native Scott Pauley on drums, longtime Cornwell's musical director Denise Minter on keyboards and newcomer Kenneth McKeen on guitar and stand up bass.

Molly Laurel and David Goins both make their Cornwell's debuts in this show, teaming up on the beautiful "If I Were A Carpenter." Goins' rousing "A Boy Named Sue" is one of the highlights of the second act, but he also delivers stunning versions of "Man in Black," "Why Me, Lord" and "Daddy Sang Bass."

Madeline Fallier returns from her stint in "Church Basement Ladies 2" as a bass and guitar player along with some simply heart-wrenching, exquisite solos, including "I Still Miss Someone," and "Cry, Cry, Cry." Timothy Leonard rounds out the cast with guitar and mandolin playing, as well as some hilarious antics during "Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart." Leonard also shares a fun duet with Laurel early in Act One on "While I've got it in My Mind" and rocks out a version of "Cocaine Blues" in Act Two.

"Ring of Fire" is transformative. If you love Johnny Cash's music, you will leave loving it more (if that's possible), and if you have never loved the music, this show will win over your heart as it has the hearts of these performers. Don't miss your chance to relive the music of the great John R. Cash with this winning musical production.