Little did the world know that Virginia Patterson Hensley— best known as Patsy Cline—born in 1932 from Winchester, Virginia, would become a legendary female country singer. Cline took waitressing jobs as a teen and started to sing at local clubs. Her first record contract came in 1954 and she was noticed after singing “Walkin’ After Midnight” on the “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts” TV show.
Cline died at the age of 30 in a plane crash along with Opry Stars Cowboy Copus and Hawkshaw Hawkins. Millions of records have sold since her death. She has reached many milestones and accomplishments with her music, including having the No. 1 Jukebox Hit of All Time for “Crazy.” Although her true fans know her music, there is always a story behind it. “Always… Patsy Cline” is playing now through Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford.
This is a true story about a unique friendship that developed out of pure love and respect. It happened at an unusual place and it is a story you will never forget. The tale begins with the narrator, Louise Seger, played brilliantly by Susann Fletcher. Seger is the friend who Patsy Cline meets at a Houston Honky Tonk in 1961. She happens to be the fan who calls into the radio station to request Patsy Cline’s songs over and over again. After meeting Cline, played beautifully by Erin McCracken, Seger excitedly invites her over to her table of beer-drinking friends. No one would have dreamed the friendship would have lasted more than a couple of drinks, but Seger became a manager for the evening; bacon, eggs, coffee in the morning; and letters from Cline until her untimely death in 1963.
While Fletcher carries the story with her wide-eyed excitable personality, tellin’ her tale in her best honky-tonk accent, McCracken takes the story to the next level with her voice. These two have a lot of fun on and offstage as they engage with the audience. No need to know all of Cline’s music, some of her mainstream hits are “Walkin’ after Midnight,” “I Fall To Pieces,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and Neil Sedaka’s “Stupid Cupid.”
The Bodacious Bobcat Band keeps up with the stars on stage, laughing and hootin’ with the ladies. The band is comprised of musical director, Ken Lundie; drums, Ken Ross; bass, Geoff Marrow; steel guitar/fiddle, Guy Fischetti; and musical contractor, Von Ann Stutler.
The show is directed by Amiee Turner; set design by Steve Loftus; costume coordinator by Heidi Giarlo; and lighting design by Andrew Gmoser.
The last scene with cigarettes on the table, coffee, bacon and eggs, laughter, tears, and a stack of letters will forever connect two people together.
This Bill Stutler and Bob Funking production of “Always… Pasty Cline” will be playing now through Feb. 28. For more information, please contact the Westchester Broadway Theatre at 592-2222 or visit broadwaytheatre.com.
