"Hello … I'm not Johnny Cash" drawls local theatre legend Sid Sidebottom as Wendy (from costume) passes him another black shirt in the backstage hallway.
In a full dress rehearsal for Ring of Fire, The Music of Johnny Cash, the former federal member for Braddon demonstrates that he can deliver the deep and low tones of the legendary American singer.
But this is not a tribute show. It's a journey through Cash's life and a genderless celebration of universally loved songs, hence the play on Cash's famous opening line.
"I'm not him. No-one is playing Johnny Cash, yet we all are," Mr Sidebottom says, reaching for what must be the last long, black trenchcoat available in Devonport.
"In this show, there are a number of classic Johnny Cash songs sung by females. I think people will be really excited by that and you do still feel that Johnny Cash is there.
The cast of six singers are joined by a seven piece on-stage band — the Smokin' Locals — led by co-director David Turner.
The singers joining Mr Sidebottom are Annette Dawes, Zac Weeks, Laura Auton, Sherry Rand and Andrew Grey.
Buddy and Johnny. Different cats
Last year Mr Sidebottom directed the Devonport Choral Society's Buddy Holly story at the same venue: Devonport's Town Hall Theatre.
That show was very much led by a star turn by young singer, guitarist and actor, Ezra Shelverton.
For his energetic Buddy Holly, he won the Tasmanian Theatre Award prize for Outstanding Male Lead Performance.
This year it's the newly formed Cradle Coast Theatre that is staging Ring of Fire. And the experience has been a baptism of fire.
They chose a show that was flexible enough to get through a COVID period.
"We've been severely affected by the pandemic. We've had to postpone the show and a majority of this cast and the band have had COVID," Mr Sidebottom says.
"So, it's been a long journey. A bit like Johnny Cash's story I think."
Music is light, dark, 's**t kickin'
Mr Sidebottom says there's a lot of darkness in Johnny Cash's music.
"Here's a man who had great faith but also sinned greatly. He hurt a lot of people, was hurt by a lot of people," he says.
Over where the band is warming up, drummer Pete Jermy points to the official musical notation on the stand that directs his drums on the classic song Jackson.
It reads: "s**t kickin".
"It's an apt description of the relentless, big rhythm that's in so much of this music," the drummer says.
The singers revel in it too, belting out 30 Cash greats across the two acts of the show, often in duet and with stunning six-part harmonies on the gospel numbers.
Annette Dawes has been travelling 90 minutes each way from Irish Town — after work — for each rehearsal and will do it again for each of the 10 shows between May 13 and May 28.
"I've come to appreciate Johnny Cash even more through this experience," Ms Dawes says.
"I love the group songs, Five Foot High and Rising, Daddy Sang Bass. They're just a heap of fun."
Co-star Laura Orton concurs: "I love Daddy Sang Bass, especially the a capella part at the start."
The show is backed by a projection of archival images from Cash's earliest days as a poor kid on an Arkansas cotton farm through his early marriage to Vivian Liberto and on to the evolution of his great love with June Carter.
The power of the show is in the greatness of the songs and in the fine cast of local singers who can all "wear black" with aplomb when called upon.
Sherry Rand, Zac Weeks and Andrew Grey are all known for regular professional gigging along the coast and know how to own the stage.
The premiere performance is at the Devonport Town Hall Theatre on Friday night.
