By Doug Iden
Always…Patsy Cline features the tragically shortened life and music of Nashville’s Country and Western pioneer Patsy Cline stomping now at The Carnegie.
Plot and Characters
Real life super-fan Louise (Sara Mackie) narrates the story of Patsy Cline (Charlotte Campbell) starting early in the singer’s career and ending with her death in 1963. Louise becomes interested in Cline’s singing while listening to her favorite radio DJ Hal on a local station in Houston. Daily, she calls the station requesting Cline’s music while Campbell sings those songs mimicking a performance in various venues.
From Hal, Louise hears that Cline will be performing live at the Esquire Theater in Houston and convinces her boyfriend and her boss to attend the show. They arrive very early and Louise spots Cline scoping out the theater. Lousie invites Cline to sit with them and interjects herself into ensuring that Cline’s performances would maximize her ability. That meeting leads to a multi-year friendship between the women, conducted primarily through continuing correspondence.
Mackie (as Louise) narrates these conversations herself using different voices. Half of the show takes place during that single night including Louise’s invitation to Cline to stay at her house, do a live radio studio performance and catch her plane the next day.
What makes this show somewhat unique is that most Juke Box musicals are told from the perspective of the performer/composer or another professional. This one is from the viewpoint of a fan and an eventual friend. This perspective draws in the audience and allows us to be participate in the story. Mackie heightens that experience with frequent direct interactions with the audience including dancing in the aisles with a patron. The show ends when Louise discusses Cline’s death represented by a microphone highlighted in the center of the stage, lit by Julie Cowger.
Always…Patsy Cline Musical Numbers
All 27 songs in the show are Patsy Cline favorites sung mostly in the order that she performed or recorded them since the story is told chronologically. There is some dialogue interaction between Cline and Louise but mostly we see Campbell singing to an audience. Early songs include “Honky Tonk Merry Go Round”, “Walkin’ After Midnight, “I Fall to Pieces”. “Cheating Heart” and “Stupid Cupid.” Several songs are incorporated into the narrative. As the women are relaxing in Louise’s kitchen after the show, they enjoy “Three Cigarettes In an Ashtray” as the friendship burgeons. Patsy wistfully thinks of her children with “If I Could See the World Through the Eyes of a Child.” The show finishes with the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” “True Love” and the rousing “Bill Bailey.”
Cline is noted as a very expressive singer with high emotional intent. She “feels” a song versus just singing it. She was a cross over artist as part of the Nashville Sound and helped introduce Country/Western/Honky Tonk music to a much broader audience. Campbell interprets Cline’s singing rather than trying to impersonate her. Using Producer and Scenic Designer Tyler Gabbard’s words, she channels Cline. Campbell has an excellent voice singing a variety of songs. She had the crowd rocking at the end.
Mackie portrays Louise as a larger-than-life personality that consumes her music passion and explodes all over the stage. Sometimes she’s poignant, sometimes flamboyant. sometimes compulsive but always entertaining. During her interactions with Campbell, you sense a genuine comradery which makes their friendship seem real.
Design Elements
In addition to singing and acting, Campbell is also the Costume Designer. Cline’s costumes change repeatedly which also happened in real life. Cline starts with Cowgirl dresses, transitions to pant suits and finishes with cocktail dresses including a slinky blue outfit during the Houston scene. For the first five songs, Cline wears a different outfit. Her costuming shows the maturation of Cline as a singer and increasingly confident performer. Louise wears every day clothes throughout but then mirrors Clines western attire at the end.
The onstage band, led by Steve Goers, sport western garb including ten-gallon hats. Gabbard’s static set design has a giant curtain featuring Cline’s face and highlighting events at the Grand Ole Opry and the Esquire theater. Louise’s kitchen is seen backstage with chairs and a table.
Overall
If you are a Patsy Cline fan, this is your show. Even if you are not a fan, this is still your show. With Mackie’s flamboyant charisma and Campbell’s singing, you have Country/Western nirvana. It is a joyful, sometimes bittersweet tale of friendship and perseverance. My only quibble is that, at times, the band was too loud but the lyrics were still very clear.
Tickets to Always… Patsy Cline
So, if you are in-Clined, grab your guitar and cowboy boots and sashay down to The Carnegie for Always…Patsy Cline running through August 3. Buy your tickets ONLINE or call the Box Office at 859-957-1940
