| What: Sin and Salvation – The Story of Johnny Cash Where: Baxter Studio, Cape Town When: March 25-28, 2026 Cast: Jamie Jupiter as Johnny Cash (vocals, guitar and harmonica), Jonny Blundell (musical director and guitar), Sarah McArthur (multi-instrumentalist and vocals) and Daniel Franks (double bass and multi-instrumentalist) Bookings: Webtickets Director: Nigel Vermaas Script written by: Jonny Blundell, with input by Nigel Vermaas Musical director: Jonny Blundell Lighting: Patrick Curtis Stage design: Louise van der Westhuizen Sound design: Mark Mwaba |
“Hello, this is Johnny Cash”, declares Jamie Jupiter at the start of Sin and Salvation in Cape Town. Loved this show which is subtitled as The Story of Johnny Cash. This is how Johnny Cash invariably introduced himself at his concerts. It is as if Jupiter has climbed into the skin of Cash. Goosebumps.
Sin and Salvation is on in the Baxter Studio, March 25-28, 2026. Jamie Jupiter is accompanied by Jonny Blundell, Sarah McArthur and Daniel Franks. They are all consummate musicians and they act as they channel the late legend of The Man in Black. Impressive acting – levelling up what one would expect from a “tribute show.”
Nigel Vermaas who is in the director’s seat, describes it as “musical theatre”. I would suggest that is a “live evocation” of The Man in Black. It feels like one is at a Live Johnny Cash concert. Yes, one knows that he is no longer alive and that we are in Cape Town, but are seduced by the Southern charm of the performers – their accents, characterisations and rendition of the Johnny Cash songbook – with rousing arrangements and carefully articulated transitions.
In conjunction with the evocation of the music of Johnny Cash, it is a theatrical experience as the performer’s take on various characters (Johnny’s mom, sister, June Carter etc) who are absolutely charming, even if their charm is intertwined with sin and salvation of their muse on stage. I loved the use of props (such as the headset of a rotary phone) and the subtle changes in wardrobe, which ring the character shifts and spatially interject a dynamism into the visual experience.
The show was conceived by guitarist Jonny Blundell. He is of the famous Blundell family of musicians – South African musical royalty. He wrote the script, got the band together. The show was performed. At some point, Vermaas was brought in to give his input. That led to him stepping as director and here they are after various iterations, with the show, at the Baxter, with all the bells and whistles of a theatre show. Lighting design byPatrick Curtis. Stage design by Louise van der Westhuizen and sound designMark Mwaba. Every gesture and movement is precise, held in check, articulately crafted and calibrated. There is a sense of the performers gazing at Johnny Cash, at all times. Theatrically, that draws our attention to the complex man who battled with his demons and still managed to write over a thousand songs.
I was fascinated to read the bios of the performers. Jonny Blundell is a legend in his own time and is as mentioned, his family is Music Royalty. Sarah McArthur teaches at Herschel. School, in addition to her career as a multi-skilled performer. Daniel Franks who describes himself a jazz junkie with an affinity for wild gypsy jazz, plays extensively and runs Franks Musical Instruments in Muizenberg – instrument repair and salesroom. Jamie Jupiter began his career a guitarist for The Honeymoon Suites, the 90s cult band and has been involved in shows such as the Fleur du Cap Award winning, Angels on Horseback which we saw many moons ago at the Alexander Bar.
Sin and Salvation – The Story of Johnny Cash – is a beautiful show, tender, entertaining, emotional and insightful. “Hello, this is Johnny Cash”. Yes! We hear you, Johnny and you give us comfort in these dark times as we walk the line with you and your stories of pain, addiction, loss and love; always embracing love.
✳ Featured image: Sin and Salvation – The Story of Johnny Cash, Baxter Studio, Cape Town, March 25-28, 2026. This photo from the opening performance, March 25. Pic: Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn.
