Maybe I don’t like the music of Johnny Cash as much as I thought, or maybe this wasn’t a great production. Ring of Fire did not resonate with me, or the two fans attending with me. It is not like the bio-pic, Walk the Line, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon that resounded with the music and personalities of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Ring of Fire is a vocal bibliography of most of the hits and some of the sleepers.
The cast of ten surprised me. Groups like Arizona Theater Company have swung away from large productions because of the cost of talent. You not only have to hire the cast, you must pay room and board for a several months. The cast was good. They did not try to mimic Cash and Carter. Some of the numbers were fun.
Overall, a mediocre evening at the theater. One good note is the new restaurant located next to the theater, Simplicit. I had the poke bowl and reveled in the sushi/salad combo.