BWW Reviews: Stages St. Louis Presents Stunning Production of ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE

Always..Patsy Cline is a wonderful show, brimming with good humor and a great selection of classic country tunes. More than just a tribute show, this musical offering actually has a story to tell to go along with its superb collection of material covered by the iconic singer. But, what really makes this show successful are the performances by the cast and the band, all of whom do absolutely impeccable work. With the entire run sold out, or nearly so, this review is just confirmation of what a lot of you already know; this is exceptional, must-see entertainment produced by Stages St. Louis.

The title, Always...Patsy Cline, comes from the way the singer would sign the correspondence she kept up with fast friend Louise Seger. Seger became an instant fan the first time she heard that distinctive, transcendental voice coming over the airwaves of her local radio station. The opportunity to attend a concert by her favorite artist at a honky-tonk resulted in a meeting that found the rising country star sleeping over at Louise's house before her flight out of town. Over the course of that evening the pair became surprisingly close, and a friendship was forged which lasted until the singer's untimely death in a plane crash a few years later.

Zoe Vonder Haar is just terrific as Louise, a divorced woman raising two children on her own, and her infectious energy keeps the show flowing along at fast pace. She's also given a lot of cute lines and business that she delivers with a believable twang, and her interactions with the audience are priceless. Of course, her work with Jacqueline Petroccia as Patsy, is what makes the story really come alive, and once she overcomes her initial sense of being star struck, the pair bonds and settles in comfortably with one another. Petroccia does an amazing job as Patsy, easily capturing Cline's signature style and that awesome voice, but also grounding the character in a way that makes her seem both folksy and real. Still, one can't say enough about the way Petroccia tackles these tunes that not only represent some of Cline's biggest hits, but also ones that fit the story as it progresses.

Along with the sharp performances of the lead characters, there's also an element that really makes this show cook, and that's the live band that accompanies them under the excellent musical direction of pianist Lisa Campbell Albert. Joining Albert is a crack band that brings these familiar arrangements to life. John Higgins (pedal steel), Jon Ferber (guitar), Kevin Buckley (fiddle), Vince Corkery (bass), and Don Drewett (drums) all do a great job and deserve recognition. There's even a fair amount of funny interplay between Patsy, Louise, and the band.

Director Michael Hamilton does a fantastic job of making these strong performances shine, and he's aided by the marvelous scenic design of James Wolk, and the flashy lighting scheme of Matthew McCarthy. Lou Bird contributes the gorgeous costumes that Petroccia frequently changes into as she moves between numbers.

Stages St. Louis has put together a very memorable show with Always...Patsy Cline, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you can still get tickets, then by all means do so! This production continues through June 30, 2013 at the Robert G. Reim auditorium.

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