Thanks to Hollywood, most of us know the love story of music legend Johnny Cash and country songstress June Carter.
Their characters are now iconic figures, living on in television footage reels, a blockbuster movie and recordings.
Therefore, audiences must give credit where credit is due, and Drayton Entertainment deserves it for taking on such a challenging story in a live theatre performance.
Using stock footage and real voice overs in a montage provides a backdrop throughout the show and was an interesting use of technology, marrying the past with the present.
Narrating the audience through the ebb and flow of the songs and monologues, June Carter, played by the vibrant Colleen Aynn, guides the story along from the initial Folsom Prison recordings, through to Cash’s addiction, their stage history, and even the wedding proposal in London, Ontario.
If you love Johnny Cash, (and I do), you can’t help but be skeptical that anyone can pull off that deep baritone voice or stoic stature.
Aaron Solomon proves that he respects the heart and soul of his character when he dawns the Man in Black persona, reaching deep in his vocal range to pull off strong, low notes.
While the audience appreciated, and even joined in with Cash’s hit songs, some of the more impressive renditions included less popular songs like Cocaine Blues, The Long Black Veil and 25 Minutes To Go.
Audiences appreciated Solomon’s renditions of the standards too, like Ring of Fire, Walk the Line, and Don’t Take Your Guns to Town. Humourous renditions of Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog, and A Boy Named Sue, were well received.
Impressively, Solomon never steps out of character or tone. His portrayal of Cash is both humble and sensitive.
Solomon manages to portray a man with a tortured past without delving into the demons and, like his character, Solomon clearly loves to sing for the sake of sharing his gift, with no doubt a range far beyond what this baritone role allows.
To his credit, Solomon also brings to the stage the boyish affection that Cash felt for his beloved June.
Aynn epitomizes the cheerful, vibrant June Carter with grace. She represented the grounded woman behind the man, who shines in her own right.
Embodying her character, Aynn revived classics like Keep on the Sunny Side, and Juke Box Blues and Will the Circle Be Unbroken with composed elegance.
Audiences were spellbound when Aynn showed another side, bringing her rich, sultry vocals to the original blues heat of Crescent City Blues. She was very charismatic in her role.
Johnny and June is at the Drayton Festival Theatre until Aug. 11. For tickets call 519-638-5555 or visit www.draytonfestival.com.
