Walking into Always… Patsy Cline feels like tagging along with a friend to a concert where they know every word, every note and every backstage story — meanwhile, you’re only vaguely familiar with the artist. As the lights dim and the band strikes up, it’s your friend’s enthusiasm that pulls you in, even if you wouldn’t have bought the ticket on your own.
That is the vibe Candlelight Dinner Playhouse brings to this jukebox musical, in which your lively guide Louise Seger (Jalyn Courtenay Webb), mega fan of country music icon Patsy Cline (Charlotte Campbell), welcomes you into her world with infectious admiration for the country icon.
Candlelight is no stranger to producing polished, crowd-pleasing productions that sell out while other theaters struggle. Following a rash of dinner theater closures across Colorado — including Boulder’s BDT Stage earlier this year — the 17th season opener from the Johnstown playhouse is the company’s latest effort to save a dying tradition on the Front Range.
Helmed by artistic director Kate Vallee, the enjoyable but uneven Always… Patsy Cline may not be the silver bullet that will light a fire for dinner theater among a new audience. But for those already on board with the music legend’s deep discography, this slickly staged tribute is sure to attract enthusiastic audiences looking for a toe-tapping good time.
A star is born
Ted Swindley’s upbeat but underwritten musical is based on the true story of a friendship between Cline and Seger, a divorced single mother in Houston. She becomes enamored by the country singer after hearing her on the radio, and the pair eventually develop a personal connection during a chance meeting at a concert.
What follows is a heartwarming relationship that lasts through letters and phone calls until Cline’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1963. Instead of diving into the artist’s full biography, as seen in shows like Jersey Boys or Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, this production focuses on the bond between artist and fan.
Always… Patsy Cline falls somewhere between a musical and a tribute concert. Hits like “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy” and “I Fall To Pieces,” are all performed in the context of the story during Patsy’s concerts or on the radio, lending the energy of a live honky-tonk performance. While there are some sentimental moments, the experience focuses more on Patsy’s cultural impact than her personal battles.
Campbell portrays Patsy with reserved charm, capturing the musician’s vulnerability despite occasionally hitting some flat notes. However, it’s Webb’s Louise who steals the show. As the story’s narrator and comedic heart, Webb makes the audience feel as if they are all along for her journey with Patsy. Webb keeps the energy up by riffing with the crowd, injecting bombastic humor into an otherwise straightforward plot.
The dynamic between Webb and Campbell is playful, particularly in the final scene of Act 1, when their characters bond at Houston’s storied Esquire Ballroom. Though the pacing is initially slow as the story focuses on establishing their friendship, Act 2 picks up steam with some narrative action as Louise gets Patsy to perform at a radio station before they start exchanging letters and phone calls.
Josiah Buhre’s set design is simple but effective, with separate sections for Louise’s kitchen on the left, a bandstand in the middle and a jukebox area on the right that represents everything from the radio station to the historic Texas club where the pair first connected. Deb Faber’s costume design evokes the era: Campbell’s stunning red fringe ensemble pays homage to Patsy’s iconic stage outfits, and Webb’s larger-than-life red wig and Texas-inspired attire add extra flair to her boisterous personality.
The song is the story
The music, of course, is the backbone of the show. Campbell’s renditions of Cline’s classics are accompanied by a live band led by music director Paul Falk, featuring bass, electric guitar, pedal steel, fiddle and percussion. Lovers of the recording artist will undoubtedly appreciate Campbell’s efforts to capture her style, but it’s Webb’s stage presence that truly elevates the experience and makes the drive to Johnstown worthwhile.
As is customary at Candlelight, the meal is as much a part of the outing as the performance, and dinner service was seamless. The menu was packed with food themed around the show, like Texas BBQ brisket and Tex-Mex stuffed peppers. The Cajun cod was well-seasoned but dry. Nonetheless, the staff was attentive, and the dessert course of raspberry sorbet at intermission made up for the entrée.
The musical itself mirrors the dining experience: sweet and enjoyable, but not entirely filling. While the songs and performances are delightful, the show doesn’t dive deep into her life or struggles, leaving you wanting a bit more substance. However, if you’re someone who already has an emotional connection to her music, Always… Patsy Cline will hit the right notes.
ON STAGE: Always… Patsy Cline. Through Nov. 10, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown. $45-$83