Cashing in: Tex Perkins in The Man in Black.
By Cherie Donnellan
JOHNNY Cash seemingly comes back to life in the rich baritone of Tex Perkins.
But the Australian alternative rock star deferentially described himself as only “inhabiting Johnny’s style” in tribute show The Man in Black.
“I’m being truthful on stage. What audiences see is me, just in a Johnny Cash framework,” Perkins told the Independent ahead of his two performances in Geelong next week.
He described the show as a “live, music-driven documentary-of-sorts”.
“It’s not like a play. It’s essentially music and (female lead) Rachael Tidd and I narrate the story of his life.
“Rachael is wonderful as Cash’s wife June Carter.”
Perkins laughed while recollecting comments about his on-stage chemistry with Tidd.
“People often ask if Rachael and I are together and we’re like ‘It’s show business’ but people are seeing real chemistry on stage because we do get along.
“She’s a good sparring partner for me in ad-lib scenes because she goes along with it.”
A self-confessed Cash fan, Perkins said the show’s producers “stumbled on the right man for the job”.
“I had a deep history with Johnny. Singing in my first band (at 16) The Dum Dums, half our set was Cash songs. Trashy and thrashy versions but his songs nonetheless.”
Perkins said he had “surprised” himself with his acting abilities in the show.
“It was a total challenge at first. (Theatre is) a distinctly different world to the rock world but I’ve grown to love it.
“At first I had to be disciplined to remember the lines, the stage entries and exits but it’s second nature to me now.”
Perkins was drawn to Cash’s dichotomous life, expressed in his lyrics.
“There’s a lot of darkness but also a lot of humour and at times it’s the same thing.
“Like (Folsom Prison Blues’ lyrics) I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. It seems cold but it’s also strangely funny.”
Geelong Performing Arts Centre hosts The Man in Black on Tuesday and Wednesday, with tickets remaining for the second show.
