THUNDER BAY -- The lights at Magnus Theatre cast a soft sepia glow on the Man In Black, writing roughly through a Sunday morning.
On the other side of his alcohol-induced stupor of depression, Johnny Cash would redeem himself in Nashville.
The young man's journey from the Arkansas cotton fields to the top of America's country charts, his dark days coping with success and his ability to overcome his demons make up three acts in Magnus' newest offering, Ring of Fire.
"I'm not particularly -- I didn't think I was a country music fan -- but when I was thinking about this musical, I listened to all the songs it contained and realized I'd actually grown up with this music and loved it," said Magus Theatre's aristic director Mario Crudo.
"And I've come to love it even more as we've done it."
Ring of Fire is the second version of the musical written by Richard Maltby based on Cash's life. It's stripped down from a 16-member cast carrying a cumbersome script to only five actors weaving the songs that changed country music into the story of their songwriter's life.
Through the different stages of his life, all five actors play Johnny Cash.
"It would be difficult to have one actor portraying Johnny Cash because he was so well known and so present in our memories," Crudo said.
Instead, they take on Cash's persona, speaking directly to the audience while imparting knowledge of his story and music. The actors pass around a violin, guitars and bass guitars, a snare drum, violin, banjo and piano.
"This was the challenge for us, was finding five performers who could also play multiple instruments. They're very, very talented. They act and play in the show."
The first performance is slated for Monday night. Many of the shows over the two-week run are already sold out.
