Play review
'Crazy' about 'Patsy Cline'
By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

Yee haw! Ready to have a good time? Even if you're not a country music fan, you'll find your toes atappin' and your head a-bobbin' at "Always . . .Pasty Cline" at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

This two-hander musical revue features Michele McRae as the dynamic singer. Kathleen Silverman plays Louise Seger, who holds together the songs with an ongoing monologue with the audience. She's a big haired, good ole' Texas gal and diehard fan who tells how she first overheard Patsy singing on Arthur Godfrey's TV show.

Most of the show covers one night when Patsy arrives in Louise's hometown to perform in the local honky tonk. Ecstatic, Louise drags her boss and boyfriend to the venue 90 minutes early "to get a good table" (nobody else is there).

As they wait, Patsy wanders through the room, all alone with no retinue, agents or companions. Louise introduces herself, and the two women share a beer and become fast buddies.

After Patsy's shows, Louise invites the singer to her house for bacon and eggs. They eat, talk, share secrets, open their hearts, and commiserate about love before an exhausted Patsy goes to sleep. The next morning Louise takes the singer to meet her local DJ for an impromptu interview and the performer's off to the airport for her next gig.

Although the women never see each other again, Patsy writes long, frequent letters to Louise, signing each one, "Love Always . . . Patsy Cline." A few years later, Louise is heartbroken when her local DJ announces the singer's untimely death in a plane crash, but the show ends with a smile as Patsy comes out for a few more numbers.

McRae's role is limited to singing, with only a handful of dialogue. She belts out 26 songs and shows incredible range, from CW hits ("Walkin' After Midnight," "Crazy," "Back in Baby's Arms"), to rock 'n' roll ("Stupid Cupid," "Shake, Rattle and Roll"), gospel ("Just a Closer Walk With Thee") and even a lullaby ("If I Could See the World Through the Eyes of a Child). Her singing is sexy, sweet, energetic and tender.

"Your Cheatin' Heart" is a show stopper that would make any man beg forgiveness. McRae is having a grand ole' time and, by gum, so is the audience.

McRae is backed with a fivepiece band that stomps right along and offers some mighty fine guitar pickin'. Occasionally she chats with the band and the musicians interject their own comments.

The top notch band has Steve Schneider on keyboard, Sam Khosravi on bass, Lance Walbridge on drums, and Gabe Gonzales and Dennis Gray on guitar.

Silverman provides plenty of comic relief and energy in her fast paced dialogue delivered in a thick, Southern drawl. She draws in the audience and does her darnest to turn us all into big fans of Miss Patsy Cline, as she calls her idol. There isn't much of a storyline, but Silverman makes us believe it's the most important night of her life and fills us in on every gosh darn detail.

The focus of the show is on the music, and it doesn't disappoint in that area one bit. As for the plot, we learn precious few biographical details about Patsy and only catch a glimpse of her achin' heart (her marriage is rocky and she misses her children during her tours). Yet Patsy lets the music speak for her and instead of a soliloquy, she vents her emotions in song.

McRae's makeup and coiffeur turns her into a near replica of the real singer. She changes costumes with almost each song, with stunning results. From her Grand Ole Opry outfit to glitter dresses to cowboy clothes, her clothes are a visual treat.

Silverman doesn't confine her character to the stage, but comes down into the audience to chat with folk or dance with an unsuspecting patron. She leads the crowd in a couple of sing-a-longs and by cracky, anyone not singing is a rotten egg.

David Ralphe directed the show and Steven Schneider provides the musical direction. The play, written and originally directed by Ted Swindley, is based on a true story.

Patrons should bundle up, as the theater didn't seem to have the heat turned on the night I attended.

"Always . . . Pasty Cline" continues through Feb. 11. The theater is at 3050 E. Los Angles Ave., Simi Valley. For tickets, call the box office at (805) 583-7900.