A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline

April 13 - May 1, 2005

Written by Dean Regan
Directed by David Nairn 

Patsy Cline lives again!

Relive the unforgettable passion and glamour of Country Music's greatest songstress in this stirring tribute to a musical legend. Featuring 21 unforgettable songs, including Crazy, Sweet Dreams and Walkin' After Midnight, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline recreates the look, the sound, the magic and the music that made her the first lady of Country.

Starring
Leisa Way
Stephen Guy-McGrath
 

Articles and Reviews

Crazy About Patsy Cline Show

The Orangeville Banner
April 19, 2005

It would be difficult to find someone who didn't leave Theatre Orangeville's opening night of A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline with a feeling of delight. In fact, I would go as far as to say those who didn't thoroughly enjoy it would be … well, they would be as scarce as teeth on a chicken. It's entertaining, it's snappy and it's unpredictably unpredictable.

You wouldn't expect a musical tribute to be so peppered with humour, wit, history, emotion and personality. But this one delivers all that, and more. Each performance seems to top the next, and the audience is perpetually on a high.

Leisa Way's portrayal of Patsy Cline must be unprecedented. I've never seen the production before now, but I'm willing to bet that no one has come as close as Way in emulating the essence, the voice and the passion of the country music legend. A very difficult repertoire to master — with Cline's trademark deep voice and the ability to hit those low, guttural notes — but Way causes shivers with her grandiose voice. I felt she was holding back in the first act, and maybe it was intentional, but she really lets go and absolutely fills the theatre with her voice in the second act. I especially enjoyed her rendition of Walkin' After Midnight (you'll see why), She's Got You, Bill Bailey and, of course, the long-awaited Crazy.

Interspersed with the music is the narration of Cline's life by Little Big Man, a radio personality paying tribute to the singer during a live radio broadcast. Stephen Guy-McGrath takes this role on with both depth and stamina and easily elicits laughs from the live studio audience (that's you). His country twang and comical demeanor make him a loveable character who provides an essential balance to the play. Watch for his "paid advertisement" and "breaking news" segments — they'll catch you off guard and keep the laughs coming. Another character appears as an opening act for Cline and you'll particularly enjoy the antics of Melvin (also played by Guy-McGrath). His outrageous quips (something about playing his instrument), his hillbilly songs and his playful country bumpkin vocabulary (when's the last time you heard the word hootenanny?) will have you howling with laughter and gasping for a breath.

The production remains faithful to the era — in its live radio broadcast, in the costumes and even in Way's poised dancing and dainty movements — and takes you back to a time when country music was topping the charts.

Kudos to the live band — Michael Mulrooney, Bruce Ley, Dave Wilson and Bob Hewus — for a phenomenal job.

I encourage any fan of theatre, music, comedy or just a good night out to catch this show. Without having to take a single step, you'll travel to Virginia, Nashville, Las Vegas and New York to following country music legend Patsy Cline. Simply said, you'd be "Crazy" not to go.