Writer: Charlene Boyd
Director: Cora Bissett
Designer: Shona Reppe
On the surface you would be hard pressed to find any similarities between a young Glaswegian actor and the woman who wrote the country music classic Ring of Fire. But between these two complex women: both mothers, both phenomenally talented, both not without their hardships, there are many parallels to be drawn.
Glasgow actor Charlene Boyd was out of work, a newly divorced mother of two living in a carpet-less high rise flat, working multiple jobs: in a care home, child-minding and singing as June Carter Cash in a tribute band, oh and to top it all, it’s during COVID when she found a signed copy of the autobiography of Carter Cash in a charity shop.
Boyd discovers the incredible story of a woman whose star in her heyday eclipsed that of her global superstar of a third husband Johnny Cash. The Carters were country music royalty and their fame spread from stage to screen to universal acclaim in their field. Juney a favourite with the American TV audience.
Boyd is fired up by the idea of finding out more about this incredible woman and emails everyone she can think of to talk about Carter Cash. With too many no replies and brush offs to count, ultimately Boyd packs her bags and travels to the Appalachian Mountains on a ten day mission to find the truth. That Carter Cash survived the backlash of a divorce in the 50s from her cheating husband and had to stick on a smile and perform at The Grand Ole Opry with him when the world new what had happened, is testament to her character.
Carter Cash’s strength and resilience is mirrored in Boyd’s desire to forge her own path, to refuse to wait until the work comes to her. Having never written before, undeterred she forges on. Eventually, and heart-warmingly it is those closest to Carter Cash: her daughter Carlene and son John Carter Cash who are the most open-armed. Carlene telling Boyd that only she could write about why her mother means so much to the actor.
This is not a biographical piece about Carter Cash, Boyd talks about her own circumstances, the development of the piece, and finds common ground between the pair, how woman are still oppressed by sexism and misogyny, how their stories are silenced by the louder ones of men. It is full of wonderful fire and fury.
Of note is the staging. Shona Reppe’s set sprawls the entirety of the Dissection Room at Summerhall. There’s the glorious three piece band comprising Harry Ward, Ray Aggs and Amy Duncan on an Opry-like stage. The famous circle cut from the Ryman auditorium is replicated here, tables decorated with memorabilia are scattered throughout inspired by the legendary Bluebird Cafe. There are fairy lights strewn around. The expansive set portrays June’s Clinch Mountain home, Glasgow high rise, Nashville country clubs among many others.
Boyd covers the entirety of the auditorium and the audience throughout the show, she is a magnetic performer, truly multi-talented, she has the audience in the palm of her hand. This is an utterly captivating piece of theatre, bold, original and inventive. Boyd’s is a voice I can’t personally wait to hear more from. This is an unmissable piece of theatre.
Runs until 24 August 2024 then touring | Image: National Theatre of Scotland