Through 7/5
Always…Patsy Cline, now on stage at Actors’ Summit, is a well-formed musical review in which a Patsy Cline imitator wails away Cline’s signature songs, including “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “She’s Got You,” “Anytime,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lovesick Blues, “Faded Love,” and “Crazy.” The songs are interspersed with comments by a Cline fan and Cline “herself.”
Born Virginia Patterson Hensley in 1932, she became the signature voice of the Nashville sound, a subgenre of American country music which was noted for substituting the honky tonk previous style of country music which used fiddles and a nasal sound by the lead vocals, with strings, background music and crooning lead vocalists.
Cline’s success, more than anything else, was probably brought about by her appearance in 1957 on the Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts radio show. She proved to be one of the few country stars of her day who could make the crossover to pop music.
Cline’s sound was distinctive. She had a rich tone, unusual phrasing, a hitch in her voice that is the key to any singer duplicating her sound, as well as an ability to pronounce words in a way that often made single syllable words into three or four parts.
She died in a plane crash at age 30. Ten years after her death, she became the first female solo artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her induction plaque read, “Her heritage of timeless recordings is testimony to her artistic capacity.” And even today, she is recognized as one of the greatest women in country music and rock and roll.
The script and song order for Always…Patsy Cline was created by Ted Swindley. The Actors’ Summit production, under the direction of Constance Thackaberry, is very entertaining.
The two-person show features Jennifer Browning as Cline and Chanda K. Porter as Louise, an avid Cline fan. The duo is backed up by a wonderful group of musical artists consisting of musical director and pianist JT Buck, drummer/percussionist Patrick Altmire, bassist Brian Del Bianco and guitarists who alternate nights.
Porter steals the show as the dynamic, funny, “in your face” Louise. She has a wonderful sense of comic timing, is totally uninhibited on stage, connects well with the audience and has a great singing voice. She is a delight to watch.
Jennifer Browning has a VERY strong singing voice and has mastered the Cline sound and pronunciation. She fails, however, to display the dynamic presence for which Cline was noted. She acts Cline rather than being Cline. Thus, she becomes a caricature of the great singer rather than Cline.
Capsule judgement: Always…Patsy Cline makes for a pleasant evening of songs, humor and musical delight. If you appreciate country music or are an avid fan of Patsy Cline, you will have a wonderful time.
The show runs through 7/5. For tickets, go to the Actors’ Summit website.
Actor’s Summit’s 2015-2016 season includes Quilters (10/8-11/1); Guys on Ice (11/25-12/22); Same Time, Next Year (1/21-2/7); Chiapatti (2/25-3/13); Tally’s Folly (4/14-5/1) and Tintypes (5/19-6/19).
[Written by Roy Berko, member, American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle]