Reviewed by Judy Richter
The life and career of crossover
country singer Patsy Cline were cut tragically short by the crash of a light plane
in 1963. Just 30 years old, she had achieved stardom only a few years earlier
when she appeared on Arthur Godfrey's popular morning radio show in 1957. However, she had
been singing ever since she was a teenager and recording since she was in her
early 20s.
Written by Ted
Swindley, "Always
... Patsy Cline"
is based on a true story and is being presented by San Jose Stage Company. In 1961, Cline performed in
Houston, where single mom Louise Seger was an ardent fan. Seger arrived at the concert
venue so early that she had a chance to meet Cline and talk with her. Afterward
she offered to give Cline, who was traveling alone, a ride to her hotel. First
they went to her house for coffee, bacon and eggs. They talked for so long that
Cline spent the night, and Seger took her to the airport the next morning. This
encounter was the start of a friendship highlighted by an exchange of letters.
Cline always signed hers, "Love always, Patsy Cline."
Based on this incident,
the show's plot is thin, as is character development. It's really a frame
around which to build a revue of about two dozen songs that Cline performed
during her career. Some of the best known (at least to a non-country-western
fan like me) are "Crazy," "Walkin' After Midnight" and "Seven Lonely Days."
Cline is portrayed by Judith
Miller, whose
voice is darker with more vibrato than Cline's but who captures the essence of
her style. Louise is played by the ebullient Marie Shell, who occasionally joins in on
the songs. They're backed by a five-man, onstage band, directed by Don Dally, who also plays lead guitar and
fiddle..
Direction is by Randall
King and Rick
Singleton. The
simple set consists mainly of two tables, one of them representing Louise's
kitchen table, plus the bandstand. Lighting is by Selina G Young with costumes by Jean
Cardinale. Nion
Dickson's sound
design is too loud for San Jose Stage's intimate venue.