LaCageFans: RING OF FIRE Review

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 10:47am

RING OF FIRE Review

Incorporating 38 Johnny Cash tunes, “Ring of Fire” is the latest Broadway, eh, juke-box musical (using that word very loosely) based on the songs of a pop group or solo act. It aspires to be “Jersey Boys” meets “Mamma Mia” (which lets face it, are only “tops” of an already despised genre of musical theatre). Unfortunately, this show comes nowhere close to even being as good as that; it is more like “Good Vibrations” meets…an even worse fate! If Mr. Cash were still alive to grace us with his demanding presence, he would slip right back into one of his devastating dark places if he could see what creators and producers are doing to his commanding music. “Ring of Fire” is an uninspired and rotten attempt to recreate what should be a joyful and moody piece - that turns out to be nothing more than ill-conceived rubbish.

Creator and Director Richard Maltby, Jr., whose previous works (Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Fosse) dazzled, is working overtime at the complete and utter bottom of his form by trying to con audiences into enjoying this pathetic patchwork. And that doesn’t even begin to describe the work of Lisa Shriver, who has never choreographed a Broadway outing all by herself and makes that clearly evident here with some of the corniest dancing in Broadway history.

It also does not help that the show has one of the flimsiest sets (designed by Neil Patel) of any current Broadway show. Enough with screens already! Most shows that have used projections in the past year have failed miserably. A coincidence? I think not! But, “Good Vibrations,” “Blonde in the Thunderbird,” “Lennon”, and “The Woman In White” have all failed to razzle-dazzle or turn a profit and they each used screens. Only “The Woman In White” used their screens to the shows benefit…but even it didn’t strike a cord with American Audiences. “Ring of Fire” should have steered clear and left the projections where they belong, in a movie theatre or home entertainment system. Instead it jumps right in the proverbial sinking ship.

Although the evening continues to sink with or without the dreaded screen; for there is not a true story that is explored. No retrospective, no new spin, no underlying moral tale, no deep look into the legend’s explosive career. Maybe a smart choice considering how bad every juke-box musical book has been up until now! But, Cash’s music is simply not Broadway fare and an entire evening of comma inducing arrangements will put most New York audiences to sleep. And lets face it, this is not the time of year that tourists are flocking to the Great White Way!

With everything so wrong with “Ring of Fire,” it is hard to imagine the cast being as well-rounded as they are. For the powers that be have decided not to name any characters! But why would they? There is no story; instead each actor is just milling around stage pretending to be in a country jukebox musical gone bad. Jarrod Emick, who does the best job of the six standouts, has a powerful voice and a great smile to go along with it – unfortunately that is all he ever gets to show off in this piece. Also doing effective vocal work throughout is Jeb Brown.

The entire evening is embarrassingly bad. Each marvelous Cash number fails to register beyond their melancholy pull. These Broadway producers must enjoy watching a legends career nearly shatter before ones eyes at the same time watching their money burn. For this “Ring of Fire” is not even fit for the likes of the Dollywood Theme Park, let alone a Broadway stage!

[QMAN03]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 12:42pm

Great review (as usual. Your review of Rabbit Hole pushed me to buy tickets). But when you said jukebox musicals never have good books, are you saying Jersey Boys doesn't have a good book?

[showinoff]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 1:26pm

I saw it Friday night.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 1:31pm

Where did Good Vibrations use screens?

Avenue Q used screens as well you know

LESTAT does too, but we will have to see about that...

[QMAN03]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 1:52pm

I don't know if you'd call what Avenue Q used screens. Avenue Q still had a set. The T.V.'s were just used to make it feel more like Sesame Street...I think.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 3:37pm

QMAN - First off - Thanks again! When are you seeing RABBIT HOLE? It's one of, if not THE Best theatrical work on Broadway so far this season. RING OF FIRE is One Of the worst (let us not forget IN MY LIFE!) I was one of the few who really did not enjoy "Jersey Boys" and really disliked being "Talked At" by every character. I really don't understand the Raves for that book.
If you missed it - here's the link to my Jersey Boys review.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=881828#1750045

Thesbijean - who on earth could forget the old fahsioned movie screen that was put up by cast members as the drove to California - oh god!

Showinoff - Zzzzzzzzzzz is all I really should have written. I think I know how many lighs are in the chandelear at the Barrymore theatre after seeing RING OF FIRE.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 3:38pm

oh, thanks Qman, i couldn't remember how Q used screens. And whether or not GV used screens, it still sucked.

Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:21pm

La Cage Aux Folles Fan 2------I just returned from seeing Ring of Fire (matinee) and I agree with your review 100%. I was hoping to enjoy it more---but there was no trace of a thread to tie one song to the other. While the songs were well sung and the instrumentation was also good----it simply wasn't what I felt was broadway fare. I felt as if I were back at a ranch---while an enjoyable experience---just not what I would expect here. The theater was packed----but I noticed about 10 people, getting their coats on and leaving at intermission. I enjoyed the second act slightly more-----"A Boy Named Sue" was fun----it had a hint of a plot with some actual acting (sort of) with the singing. Don't know if this will fly with NY/tourist people. Time will tell. (just my opinion----)

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:18pm

just watch the Tony '05 tape, they show clips of the musicals of the season and they show them in a "car" a.k.a. doing what 5 year olds do pretending and theres a screen behind them

[pennylane2]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:21pm

ring of fire = terrible - dont waste your TIME.. let alone your money.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:23pm

"Dollywood Theme Park"

I have no association with the place.

Thank you very much!

Posted: 2/18/06 at 9:06pm

fortunately we only spent $35 on the tix. (rear mezz)

[pennylane2]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 9:11pm

haha i love that you said lets not forget in my life BUT HONESTLY- at least that was ORIGINAL MUSIC AND STORY

ring of fire is just lame.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 9:20pm

Sorry you didn't like it LaCage, I thought it was a fun night (yet a bit long)
Great review as always

Updated On: 2/18/06 at 09:20 PM