"Always … Patsy Cline" has a winning formula: beloved pop/country songs nestled in a comedy based on a true story.
Cline's star trajectory was short — from 1957 appearances on Arthur Godfrey's TV show to her 1963 death in a plane crash. Ted Swindley's 1990 musical has been a hit nationwide for decades, and Barksdale's new production at Hanover Tavern adds its own winning ingredients to the mix.
Chief among those is the spectacular voice of Debra Wagner, who stars as the Virginia-born Cline. Wagner's luscious phrasing and tone re-create Cline's sound without mimicking it. Sit back and listen to her for two hours, and you will leave smiling.
But there's more to enjoy. Swindley crafts a frame tale using the character of Louise Seger, a Texas woman who was among Cline's early fans. She became a friend and pen pal to Cline after meeting her at a Houston appearance early in the star's career. Swindley paints Louise as earthy and funny, and actress Terri Moore brings those qualities to the stage in spades. She can hold her own in the occasional harmony with Wagner, too.
Enriching the production is the terrific six-piece country swing band led by musical director H. Drew Perkins. Terrie Powers' problem-solving set is split between a honky-tonk-style bandstand and an area that rotates to change locales.
"Always … Patsy Cline" is the Barksdale at Hanover Tavern's entry in the 2012 Acts of Faith Festival. Wagner's renditions of such songs as "Crazy" and "Sweet Dreams" may not cause a spiritual experience, but their beauty gave me chills.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement