OAKBROOK, Ill.—“Always … Patsy Cline” overflows with wonderful entertainment; it’s also a heartfelt tribute to an unlikely friendship. The musical premiered in Houston in 1988, went on to Broadway, and is now in a captivating revival at the Drury Lane Theatre.
More Than a Fan
Seger arrives early to Cline’s show in Houston and is surprised to see that Cline has already arrived and that she’s all on her own. She came without an agent or friend. Seger waits, sure that someone will soon arrive to accompany the singer, but no one does. Seger introduces herself and invites Cline to join her and her family at their table. That kind gesture is the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
Seger isn’t just an adoring fan, though. She’s a strong-willed woman who won’t let Cline be taken advantage of. When she learns that Cline is supposed to sing for four straight hours without a break, she walks into the manager’s office determined that Cline is treated better. She succeeds, and Cline is grateful that she’ll be able to take a break between performances, as well as get paid for two shows.
But Seger goes even further to help Cline. She obtains a slot on a local radio program in Houston to garner more publicity for her, and when the singer is off to catch a flight out of town, it’s Seger who drives her to the airport.
The Production
“Always … Patsy Cline” unfolds with Seger’s recollections interwoven with Cline’s performances. Since this is a two-person musical, the actresses portraying the characters need to be exceptional, and the performer playing Cline has the incredible task of sounding like the smooth contralto.
Watching Aja Alcazar step into Cline’s shoes is as exciting as live theater gets. With plenty of country charm, honest heartfelt warmth, and silky vocalizations, it’s almost as though she was channeling the original.
Alcazar is mesmerizing as she opens with “Walkin’ After Midnight,” then continues with “I Fall to Pieces,” “She’s Got You,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Back in Baby’s Arms,” and “Sweet Dreams.” When she got to “Crazy,” the audience at the performance I saw went crazy with applause. Listening to Alcazar, one can understand why Cline’s way with tunes made her one of the first country music artists to cross over into pop music.
Bria Sudia as Seger delivers a compelling portrayal as the bubbly, excitable one-woman fan club. Sudia is the spirited, funny, and charming storyteller, who brings memories of Seger’s time with Cline to life on stage.
Adding to the yesteryear feel of the show is Collette Pollard’s vintage set design. She brings Seger’s small kitchen and old-fashioned honky tonk music halls to life. Emily N. Brink’s rhinestone cowboy costume design adds to the country feel, lighting by Lee Fiskness gives the Drury Lane stage the atmosphere of an earlier era’s night club, and Chuck Mead’s music direction with Leland Plumridge’s sound design allows the twang of guitars to stand out.
Thanks to Scott Weinstein’s masterful direction, this exuberant revival is even better than productions of the show I’ve seen in the past.
“Always…Patsy Cline” isn’t just a delicious musical tribute to a legendary icon. It’s also a poignant expression of the power of friendship, of the way in which a fan and celebrity shared lives, and of their emotions and laughter over coffee across a kitchen table.
The friendship between these two women continued until Cline’s death on March 5, 1963. She was on her way to Nashville when her plane crashed; she was only 30 years old. Despite this too-brief period, her songs about love and heartbreak still move people today.
If you long for the past, just love great music, or appreciate a poignant human connection, this is one terrific show for you.
