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Always...Patsy Cline
At the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway the musical Mamma Mia! is playing right now. This
show is totally dependent on the music of the Swedish disco band ABBA. From what I have read in the
reviews for this campy show, the thin book centers around a collection of the countless songs by ABBA.
Last night at the Majestic I saw for the first time the country flavored musical Always...Patsy Cline,
and the same can be said about this show; a canon of Cline's songs are spread throughout the evening
over an empty book. The film Sweet Dreams starring Jessica Lange is a much, much better source of
biographical information on the life of this country diva.
The Swiss cheese of a book focuses on Louise Seger, a Houston woman who fell in love with Cline's
music and then by sheer luck met Cline after arriving early at the Esquire Ballroom to snatch a table
close to the stage. From this chance meeting the two struck up a friendship that lasted till Cline's
death at age 30 in a plane crash. The title of the show is taken from Cline's way of ending the letters
she wrote to Louise.
But the book gives no major plot lines, story, character development, or any pulse of a human being
outside of the score. There are a couple of lifeless monologues by Louise, and to add salt to the wound
"Patsy" has no major monologue to speak of. It's only through the songs that we get any sort of
character source on Cline. Cline's life had to have some juicy stories and facts; Sweet Dreams
showed that, why couldn't author Ted Swindley do the same?
Cindy Summers portrays Cline with pure showmanship and beauty. Summers has the intonations and vocal
qualities of Cline down pat. She glides all over the notes and scales in some of the honky tonk numbers
just like Cline. It's also a great credit to this actress to have mastered Cline's stage movements,
posture, and hand gestures for another level of believability. Summers is greatly aided by wigs, jewels,
rich period costumes, and shoes dyed to match her stage ensembles which bring the country star to life.
Summers sings the 27 musical numbers with passion, honesty, and she truly radiates Cline, especially
during "Sweet Dreams," "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces" and "If I Could See The World (Through The Eyes of A
Child)." These four tear soaked country ballads are sung with passionate pain and sorrow; it's easy to
feel the hurt and loneliness in the lyrics, all to Summers' credit.
As Louise, Misty Rowe has no music, but talks to the audience and at times even goes into the
audience to select men to dance with during some of the up-tempo numbers. Rowe is fine as the dedicated
fan, but at times she pushes too hard to get the laughs. If a joke fails or is met with lukewarm
laughter, she repeats it, determined to get the laughs it was apparently meant to receive. While Rowe's
heartfelt sorrow when commenting on Cline's death is delivered with honest sadness, there really isn't
anything in the book to help the audience truly feel the pain Louise felt; it's simply not as moving a
moment as it could be.
What would have helped this ending a lot would be for Cline to sing "Sweet Dreams" or "Crazy" as her
final number. Instead she ends with a ballad that doesn't really achieve the intended effect. But the
musical is more of a Patsy Cline tribute revue, not at all a true "book" musical.
I can recommend the show on the strength of Summers' impeccable performance. Cline must be smiling
from heaven at Summers' beautiful performance of her music!
Always...Patsy Cline plays through November 4. For Tickets: The Box Office in Preston Center,
6013 Berkshire Lane. Also any ticketmaster location or online at
www.ticketmaster.com.
--John Garcia
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