Where would all the legends be if their stories were not told? When Charlene Boyd stumbled across a ‘sign’ in a charity shop book, she set about to tell the story of June Carter Cash. As she questioned her right to do so, it became apparent that she not only had to tell June’s story but also her own. Watching this performance, you will be very glad she did.
The space is an integral part of the play. Set up akin to Nashville’s Bluebird Café, Charlene effortlessly swirls around the setting, making great use of props, costumes and performance areas. Audience members become involved in the most subtle of moves, characters and accents switch and a backdrop of musicians, sound and voices have heads turning all ways.
It’s an impressive and contrasting watch. From the sugar sweet greetings of June at the start to the grim reality of Charlene hiding in her high rise flat toilet from her kids, it doesn’t shy from the real life struggles and determination of the two. It pinpoints feminine injustices and never changing views amongst reality humour, great resilience and the power of song.
June Carter Cash became Charlene Boyd’s escapism. By fighting to tell her story she has more than exceeded in shining a light upon her where others chose not to. The feeling of emotion you may be left with is probably a sense of pride. Perhaps also a sense of hope and most likely a sense of justice. This is a story that we should all see and we should all tell.
Edinburgh Fringe 2024 edfestmag.com
photo credit : Jess Hardwick
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