BWW Reviews: ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE Creates County Magic at Peninsula Players

While a storm raged in Fish Creek outside Peninsula Players Theatre (PPT) on a Thursday evening in September, inside actor Christine Mild generated her own songstress fury starring in the musical memoir "Always..Patsy Cline."

PPT's memorable production directed by Brian Russell retells Cline's short yet stellar country music career through the stories recalled by Louise Seeger, a friend she met in Houston when on tour. Louise relates her chance personal meeting with Cline at the Esquire ballroom, where afterwards Cline spends the night at Louise's house, and their friendship endures until Cline's untimely death in a plane crash at the young age of 30 (b.1932-d.1963).

The lanky Karen Janes Woditsch gives Louise a brassy, breezy spunk to her character's humorous nature when clothed in fringed country costumes accented by rhinestone Texas cowgirl karma. A contrast to Mild's glamorous and numerous costume changes courtesy of Pamela J. Reberg. Even a blackout on the thunderous Door County night failed to dull "the affectionate chemistry" between Woditsch and Mild, or the gleam of their performances, the theater's sophiticated spotlights fixed in a flash by the accomplished Lighting Designer Jason Fassl.

Whether the audience appreciates country music or prefers another genre, Cline's iconic music resonates with the audience. "Walkin' After Midnight/looking for you" rekindles love's longing, while "Stupid Cupid, Stop Pickin' On Me" immortalizes rock and roll's pervasive appeal. as does "Shake, Rattle and Roll," in a production that incoporates a total of 28 songs. Whenever Mild portrays Cline singing, she entrances the audience with her powerful, lush voice as does the tender friendship demonstrated between Louise and Patsy. When these women shared their children and man troubles, because even Cline's second marriage was scared by difficulty, the audience vocalizes in agreement.

An elaborate stage design by J. Branson provided a great backdrop fro the six piece band, The Bodacious Bobcats that included Joe Bob, Jim Bob, Jay Bob, Jane Bob, Jon Bob, and Bob Bob The sextet played everything from the fiddle, to percussion and piano to accompany Mild and occasionally Woditsch with Cline's emotive, poignant lyrics or the warm vocals covered in Willie Nelson's "Crazy."

While Cline recorded for only seven years, her impact on country music continues today, and led the way for other female stars, her inimitable style and songs to inspire Country Music and American Music Award winners Reba McEntire through to Taylor Swift. Almost fifty years after her death, she was elected to Number One on CMT"s The Forty Greatest Women of Country Music in 2002. Her life proves that through mulitple personal trials, and despite however brief, passion, perseverance and professionalism create timeless rewards without an individual realizing what their true impact of their work will be to the future.

The highly entertaining evening mesmerizes the audience for two hours, while during the second act Louise reads actual letters written by Cline to her, and each time they end, "Love Always, Patsy." In a finale worthy of the fairytale Cline represents to country music, Mild appears angelic like, in a white tulle ballgown to sing Cole Porter's classic True Love. Cline gave her fans the best of herself every moment on stage, and she loved Louise in an endearing friendship, characteristics worthy to find in today's world. Audience members with give their own theatrical love to this magical PPT production showcasing Pasty Cline and her music, Memories that made Cline's country vocals legendary, then and now, that pass on to give other lives "Love forever true."

Peninsula Players Theatre presents Always...Patsy Cline in Fish Creek through October 19 to close their 2014 season. For information or tickets, please call 920.868.3287 or www.peninsulaplayers.com

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