Review of ‘The Ballad of Johnny & June”: “Jukebox bio flashes the Great Cash, but it’s flatter than a Tennessee top box”

If you enjoyed the world-renowned musical biography about the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, I suggest you stick to it and avoid this one at all costs. Regardless of its “from the director of” slogan, which I’m sure will put a few extra bums on the seats, this isn’t even close to the engaging narrative with seamlessly integrated pop-rock icons that Jersey Boys is known for. As far as dramaturgical quality is concerned, it doesn’t walk the line. In fact, it’s way below it.

Those who have experienced the theatrical debacle Sinatra has recently caused in the West End won’t need any explanation. The same offences apply. And consequently, the same sanctions should be imposed. Beyond some terrific renditions of Johnny Cash’s timeless tunes, there’s nothing remotely interesting, compelling, or resonant about this flavourless, insubstantial picture of the country legend’s life. A life that is totally worthy of the spotlight — and undeserving of this show.

The script hopelessly pretends to be introspective by telling the story from his son’s perspective. But it takes more than a few witless remarks and a bundle of fun facts to make a plot work. And in this one, they are all missing. Every opportunity to build depth and poignancy passes right before our eyes with astounding impassiveness from the writing, which virtually does nothing to grasp them, even in the slightest.

Cash’s career as a singer was motivated by the early death of his elder brother, which was unfairly blamed on him by his abusive father. To see such emotionally rich subjects limited to literally a couple of lines is baffling at the very least. And as the shoddiness persists throughout the entire recount, it becomes infuriating.

There is a mirage of character arc, but it never solidifies. The book intends to encompass so many topics that it eventually runs out of time to delve into any of them. It doesn’t matter if it’s Johnny and June’s toxic relationship, their struggles with drug addiction, or the neglectful parenting the narrator is haunted by. Ultimately, they are all reduced to a mere mention. None of them is given the necessary space to explore the effects they have on the personages’ journeys. And as a result, they come out shallow and insipidly dull.

Part of the problem lies in the poor structuring of the musical numbers. Most of them solely serve a diegetic purpose. They don’t move the plot along, apart from depicting Johnny’s career progress. There are exceptions, but even those fail to provide enough insight into the characters’ plight or motivations. And as much as the concert excerpts are a tad entertaining, the overall impression is of a clueless, unpolished, and above all boring piece. Not only does it show little care into what it delivers, but it also induces that feeling into its audience with absolute shamelessness.

The production is adequate but by no means remarkable. The staging conveys an American South vibe through wooden panels and cluttered furniture, which somewhat resemble a shed or a stable. However, the design isn’t abstract enough to evoke the plot’s different settings. And although the approach displays theatricality, it lacks imagination and dynamism.

Both the company and the band are the only redeeming features, except for an often out-of-tune double bass playing an otherwise brilliantly implemented underscore. Christopher Ryan Grant shines as Johnny Cash, whose extraordinary vocals are matched by his magnetic presence and excellent embodiment of the role. In addition, Christina Bianca earns another mention as June Carter Cash, bringing her signature high-octane energy and powerhouse singing to a technically impeccable portrayal.

Johnny Cash’s life might have been defined by a few rings of fire, all of which this show dodges with hardly any remorse. Inevitably, the piece doesn’t hold any higher value than a tribute show, where the musical segments are strong but everything else comes off extremely underwhelming, as we don’t get to understand the man or the seasons of his heart. And for that, we might as well put the creative team in the jailhouse now.

All pictures credit to Pamela Raith.

The Ballad of Johnny & June is on tour across the UK and Ireland until 19 September. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara