**** Highly Recommended Drury Lane’s production of Always… Patsy Cline is fantastic. Aja Alcazar is brilliant as Patsy! Her voice just fits. Add in Bri Sudia’s comedy and you get a hit! You can’t help but tap your toe to the music. I really enjoyed the show, and so will you! 4 BIG Spotlights
I was totally surprised when I read that Drury Lane was bringing back such an old show – the musical premiered in 1988 – and I’m pretty sure 2012 at Theatre at the Center was its last Chicago appearance, but as I ‘eavesdropped’ on people during intermission, I was amazed how many had never even heard of Patsy Cline, so thanks to Drury Lane.
Always…Patsy Cline, written by Ted Swindley, is based on the true story of the Grand Ole Opry’s first female star, Patsy Cline, and her unlikely friendship with her number one (self-styled) fan, Louise Seger. 27 of Cline’s hit songs are featured.
Louise Seger (Bri Sudia) was listening to the Arthur Godfrey Show when she first heard Patsy Cline sing. She says she fell in so love with that voice, she started calling her local radio station several times a day requesting Cline’s records. One day when she called, the DJ told her Cline was coming to town.
Louise and her friends got tickets – and showed up before the band. As she tells it, she was sitting at a table near the stage drinking a beer when a young woman in a trench coat over a pink suit came in. As she walked around the room, Louise realized this was Patsy Cline (Aja Alcazar), so she walked over to say hello. She was blown away when Patsy joined her group and had a beer before her show!
After the show, Louise found out Cline had taken a taxi to the venue, and was going to call another to get back to her hotel in Houston. Louise told her she’d never get a taxi at this time of night, so she offered her a ride with a stop at her house for bacon and eggs.
They ended up talking all night long, forming a lasting friendship. In the middle of the night, Lou called her favorite DJ to tell him Patsy Cline was in her kitchen. He laughed and hung up. In the morning, she drove to the hotel to get Patsy’s things, then they made a stop at the radio station where Patsy did an interview with an embarrassed DJ. When they got to the airport, Patsy hugged Lou, and said she’d be hearing from her. A couple of weeks later, Seger received a letter from Cline, the first of many which continued until the plane crash that took Cline’s life.
You’ll hear hit after hit all delivered with country charm by Alcazar and the “Bobcat Band.” The song list includes hits like Crazy, Back in Baby’s Arms, I Fall to Pieces, Your Cheatin’ Heart, Stupid Cupid, You Belong to Me, Walkin’ After Midnight, She’s Got You, Faded Love and many more.
The Bobcat Band includes Ellie Kahn (Conductor/Keyboard, Guitar, Vocals), Kara Olander (Associate Conductor/Keyboard, Guitar, Vocals), Elleon Dobias (Violin, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals), Brian Wilkie (Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Vocals), Larry Kohut (Acoustic and Electric Bass, Vocals) and Patrick Morrow (Percussion).
Always Patsy Cline runs through August 3rd at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Parking is free. Running time is two hours, 15 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Wednesdays at 1:30 pm; Thursdays at 1:30 & 7:00 pm; Fridays at 7:00 pm; Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00 pm; Sundays at 2:00 & 6:00 pm. Tickets range from $75-$150 (including taxes & fees). FYI (630) 530-0111 or www.drurylanetheatre.com.