Melissa WolfKlain, as Patsy Cline left, and Kimberly Donovan as Louise Seger in ‘Always ... Patsy Cline’ at the Hillbarn Theatre.
Country-western singer Patsy Cline was only 30 years old when she died in a plane crash in 1963, but many of the songs she sang remain popular today.
“Always … Patsy Cline,” presented by Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory, tells the true story of a friendship between her and an ardent fan, Louise Seger, in Houston.
A divorced mom, Seger (Kimberly Donovan) first heard Cline (Melissa WolfKlain) singing when her two kids were watching Arthur Godfrey’s show in the late ’50s. She was immediately enchanted and hounded the local DJ to play her records.
When she learned that Cline was slated to sing in Houston, she arrived long before the show was to start. By chance, they briefly chatted as Cline was checking out the space.
Afterward, Cline came to her table, where they talked for a long time. When she told Seger she had taken a cab from her hotel, Seger offered to give her a ride because it was too late to catch a cab.
They first went to Seger’s house, where they talked so long that Cline accepted Seger’s invitation to spend the night there before returning to her hotel to pack and go to the airport.
Afterward, they corresponded regularly. Cline signed her letters, “Love always, Patsy Cline.”
Created and originally directed by Ted Swindley, this show is basically a juke box musical with some two dozen songs by various composers. Some of those songs include “Crazy,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” WolfKlain sings well and easily adapts to the various styles.
She changes costumes between each scene, appearing in about 10 different outfits, all attractive. Kudos to costume designer Stephanie Dittbern, who also fashioned the wigs and hair styles.
Other design elements are noteworthy with lighting by Pamila Gray, sound by Jeff Mockus and set by Paulino Deleal.
As part of the excellent six-person upstage band, musical director Rick Reynolds conducts from the piano.
The show is directed and well-choreographed by Dyan McBride. However, she allows Donovan to overact. At first Donovan’s Seger seem energetic, but there’s not a lot of variation in her performance.
Otherwise, though, this production is highly entertaining, especially WolfKlain’s singing.
Running about two hours with a 15-minute intermission, “Always … Patsy Cline” continues through Sept. 15 at Hillbarn Theatre. 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.
For tickets and information call (650) 349-6411 or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.
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