Always... Patsy Cline
Broadway Palm West Dinner Theatre, Mesa, AZ
Cline tribute hits right notes
“Theatrical magic and
Cindy Summers' superb talents combine to bring Patsy Cline back to life in
Always ... Patsy Cline, an affectionate look at the singer's life that features
26 of her hit songs.”
“The show is pulled together lovingly by Gary John La Rosa's unobtrusive staging on a unit set that recreates Louise's
kitchen and the venues, including the Grand Ole Opry, where Cline performed.”
“… Always
. . . Patsy Cline and Summers brilliantly re-create Cline's greatness.”
Chris
Curcio – The Republic
Palm revives a country legend in “Always … Patsy
Cline”
“For a die-hard music fan, there’s no bigger fantasy
than hanging out one-on-one with that pop idol — getting behind the music,
so to speak, and forging a friendship. It rarely ever happens, of course. But
it did happen to country legend Patsy Cline and a feisty Houston divorcee named
Louise Seger. At least that’s what we’re told in Ted Swindley’s
wildly popular jukebox revue, “Always … Patsy Cline,” which
is getting a summer run at Mesa’s Broadway Palm Dinner Theater.”
“…the
Palm cast local actress Elizabeth Loos in the part. Loos, a young actress with
her own set of serious pipes, can’t help but charm up any show she’s
in, and her take on the Houston housewife is sassy and adorable. The Palm’s
production is backed by a pretty mean five-piece country band and everyone
shares room on Dominic Lau’s simple but honky-tonk nifty five-level stage
design. It all adds up to a pleasing little show that wants nothing more than
to stick a few old country songs in your ears and set your toes a-tappin’.
You don’t have to be a die-hard Patsy Cline fan to appreciate that.”
Chris
Page – Get Out Magazine
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
Dutch Apple Cline Revival is Rich 26-song Reverie
“Patsy Cline has the power. More than 40 years
after her death in a plane crash, her music and her life still fascinate
and move people. That was clear Thursday afternoon, when Always…Patsy
Cline opened at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre.”
“…there is a genuine quality to it that’s
quite moving.”
“If you’re a big fan of Patsy Cline,
you should love this show.”
Jane Holahan – Lancaster New Era
Patsy Cline ‘Always’ a Treat
“Always…Patsy Cline, now on stage
at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, is a funny, touching tribute...”
“Her interaction with the audience is often hilarious,
and her reflections on Cline, especially after she learns of the singer’s
death, seem sincere.”
“The experienced direction of Gary
John La Rosa (he’s staged this show three times, and it shows) and the musical
direction…combine to make Always…Patsy Cline an evening
of fine entertainment.”
Larry Alexander – Intelligencer Journal
Always…Patsy Cline – Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre
“No one sings like Patsy Cline. …That doesn’t keep
the Apple’s Always from being surefire entertainment.”
“Fortunately, Always, Patsy Cline is NOT a one-woman show. And
director Gary John La Rosa has perfectly cast Maria Vee in the co-starring
role of Louise, Cline’s No. 1 fan.”
“…it is easy to just sit back and
let this joyous, spirited and heartwarming entertainment win you over.”
Jim Ruth – Sunday News
West Virginia Public Theatre
WVPT Season Opener Always a Good Time
“Always…entertaining. That pretty much sums
up WVPT’s opening night performance of Always…Patsy Cline.
And if you think that is an exaggeration, then you weren’t there
Tuesday to hear the hootin’, hollerin’, stompin’ and
clapping goin’ down at the makeshift honky-tonk that serves as
one of the stage sets.”
“…had audience members roaring with
laughter, gasping in shock and begging for more.”
“What makes this play so enjoyable – aside
from the believability of both main characters – is the sheer believability
of these two women’s friendship.”
“Directed by returning WVPT director Gary
John La Rosa, Always…Patsy Cline runs through Sunday.”
Katie Long – The Dominion Post
Theatre-By-The-Sea, RI
“For a Pasty Cline fan, this
show is a heavenly treat.”
“Flaningam will have you laughing at her antics and she gets the
audience involved in many parts of the show, much to the credit of director Gary John La Rosa, who made her staging and blocking seems effortless. He
had the vision to make her scenes with Patsy an integral part of the
vocal numbers.”
“The audience at this sold out performance
was really getting into the show.”
“…this show is a winner. Fourquest
Productions , as many of you already know, is selling the theater. Hopefully
we will have a Theatre-By-The-Sea next summer season…in the meantime,
go see this wonderful show – Always…Patsy Cline!”
Don Gillis Little Rhody Theatre
Always . . . Patsy Cline
“Director Gary John La Rosa weaves this funny,
moving tribute to this country music star wonderfully with the over
20 musical numbers connected with a strong storyline. He casts the
two stars perfectly and gives the audience a splendid, topnotch close
to the final show produced by FourQuest Entertainment at TBTS.”
“La Rosa's excellence at direction doesn't stop
at his casting, this man knows how to move his performers around the
whole set. His direction brings out the best in his people whether it
be comic or dramatic…”
“A talented young man with impressive credentials,
make this a must see show. La Rosa is aided in his task by musical director,
Jay Atwood and his talented band members who are an integral part of
this show.”
“…this is a story driven show as
well as a musical tribute.”
“So for a fantastic evening of entertainment be
sure to catch “Always...Patsy Cline” at TBTS.”
Tony Annicone Theatre Mirror
American Idol
TBTS’ Captivating Always . . . Patsy Cline
“A good six-piece band of urban cowboys in black cowboy hats, complete
with steel guitar and fiddle, do the rest to make the performance lots
of fun. This is the last season for the present Theatre-by-the-Sea producers.
Let’s hope that whoever takes over the summer barn theater keeps
up their high standards.”
Bill Rodriguez – Providence Phoenix
Cline is ‘Always’ a Crowd Pleaser
“Even if you’re not a big fan of country music, which I’m
not, this show is a lot of fun, primarily because the two women who portray
Patsy (Cindy Summers) and her fictional fan Louise (Louisa Flaningam)
give rousing performances that reveal the heart of this ‘regular
folks’ music.”
“And the audience was pleased enough on opening night to applaud
a number of their favorite tunes when Summers began them. They gave her
and Flaningam a standing ovation at show’s end as well.”
“The songs get presented as Louise hears
them on the radio and at a Houston honky-tonk where Patsy performs
and befriends Louise. They have a hot time together and so does the
audience.”
“…it’s a delightful and enlightening
time capsule.”
John Pantalone – South County Independent
Fine Singer, Lively Comic, Great Band: Good Show
“A trip to Theatre-by-the-Sea for the season finale, Always…Patsy
Cline, shows why with a memorable tribute and penetration into the soul
that blessed us with tunes like ‘I Fall to Pieces,’ ‘Crazy,’ ‘Your
Cheatin’ Heart’ and ‘Sweet Dreams.’”
“As TBTS prepares to close what could be its final season of performances,
a special treat in this novel telling of Patsy’s story are the
two female performers who play the women born Virginia Patterson Hensley
in the rural poverty of Appalachia, and her biggest fan, Louise Seger.”
“This performance is part musical and part
concert, with some 20 Patsy songs, the two actors and the band enjoining
the audience to participate with them.”
“‘Come on in and sit right down and make yourself at home,’ Patsy
tells Louise and company, and us.”
“We’re happy to oblige, ma’m.”
Michael Holtzman – Woonsocket Call
‘Patsy Cline’ Hits All the Right Notes
“The show Always…Patsy Cline serves as both a seriocomic
chronicle of their meeting and subsequent friendship as well as a revue
of Cline’s catalogue.”
“And the current production by Theatre-By-The-Sea
in coastal Matunuck, R.I., excels at both.”
“The end of the show is no surprise, as it is common knowledge
that Cline died in a plane crash. But the show’s handling of this
event is touching without being melodramatic, making it another one of
this production’s perfect moments.”
“But underneath it all, this show is just
plain fun. How much fun? Well, you know how first acts usually end
with some sort of cliffhanger to entice audiences to come back for
act two? In this show, act one just ends with Louise saying it is time
to take a break. But the lack of suspense does not matter. The audience
wants to return for act two simply because act one was so much toe-tapping,
knee-slapping fun.”
“Whether or not you are a Patsy Cline fan,
this is an unconventional night at the theater that is part concert,
part nostalgia and pure joy.”
Fred Kuhr – In News Weekly
Applause From the Wings
Always…Patsy Cline
“Theatre-by-the-Sea picked a real winner
for their season closer. This was an evening filled with great music.”
“Directed and staged by Gary
John La Rosa, this story written by
Ted Swindley, and based on a true occurrence in Patsy’s life made
for a lovely summer evening and a sweet closing for this beloved theater.”
The Board 9/03
Broadway Palm Dinner
Theatre, FL
A Beautiful Tribute – It’s ‘Always…Patsy
Cline’ at Broadway Palm
“With a musical career that spanned just eight
years, Patsy Cline’s music has continued to endure since her tragic
death in 1963 – and her career has been beautifully resurrected
once again with BPDT’s presentation of Always…Patsy Cline
written by Ted Swindley and directed and choreographed by Gary
John La Rosa.”
Charlie Louks – Fort Myers Beach Observer
Always Patsy Cline, and Louise Too
“…a delightful earful
for the audience.”
“…absolutely hysterical.”
“The musical gives you a
great insight into the life of Patsy Cline and features all her hit
songs. The show is directed and choreographed by Gary
John La Rosa.
The Bodacious Bobcats Band provides wonderful accompaniment throughout.”
“This is a show for everyone
to see.”
Di Saggau – Island Sun
“Another great night at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre! What
a wonderful show. And even if you never really enjoyed country music,
or Patsy Cline, this show will totally change your mind & wish you'd
listened just a little bit better. Amazing. Go see it!”
Bekki Shanklin – Symposium of Artistic Resources
‘Always’ a Tribute Show That Works
“Musical tributes to performers and composers can
be tricky to pull off. How to link a couple of dozen songs whose common
thread is a personality, not a theme or plot? The creators of “Always
... Patsy Cline” overcome this hurdle cleverly by viewing the late
country singer’s rise and stardom through the eyes of a fan who
became an unlikely friend. The result is a touching, funny and thoroughly
entertaining show that’s running through Saturday, Oct. 2, at the
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers. Of course, “Always ...
Patsy Cline” wouldn’t be as good as it is if not for the two
actresses and five musicians who bring the music to life under the firm
direction of Gary John La Rosa.”
Drew Sterwald – The News-Press |