Patsy Cline: Her
Songs, Her Story, by Bernadette Robinson
At Universal Theatre
in Nov 1997, no closing date
Reviewed by Kate Herbert around 28 Nov, 1997
Patsy Cline didn't
have much luck outside of her Country and Western career. She married young,
divorced, married again to a philanderer and spendthrift.
Her first agent managed to keep her poor. A car accident
almost killed her. Finally she died in a plane crash. Light planes and bad
weather are ill portents for singing stars.
Bernadette Robinson embodies Patsy Cline to a tee. She has
the twitchy movements, the chintzy dresses and the smarmy, seductive C & W
smile - and she has the voice. Her performance is relaxed and engaging as she
strolls about the stage changing costumes as often as she changes songs.
The show, written by Bernadette and Ann Robinson and Paul
Noonan, is cleverly constructed to provide sufficient biographical detail
without becoming informational. It all begins at that fateful moment and Patsy
remembers, 'All I ever wanted was to be a star.'
Robinson moves from Patsy's Tennessee childhood dreams of
fame to her working in a Winchester drug store, her winning of talent contests,
first radio appearance and first record contract with Decca.
The first half is peppered with snatches of songs and some
complete tunes as well as lots of laconic humour about life’s little trials.
After interval and after her car accident, Patsy/Bernadette gives a humdinger
of a concert just before she gets on that plane to see her children and her
Maker.
Some of Cline’s top hits are included: Crazy, I Fall to Pieces,
Your Cheatin' Heart and Walkin' After Midnight. Considering she died 35 years
ago at the age of 30, she made her mark and has become a country music icon
after death. The gay community loves her.
Robinson is supported by musical director, Mark Jones, on
piano with a versatile band (Quentin Frayne, Ed Bates, Steve Purcell) providing
authentic backing music and vocals in the style of the Jordanaires. The design
by Louise McCarthy and lighting by Adrian Cherubin successfully support the
piece.
Director Kaarin Fairfax has kept the pace moving on stage
with some slick and cunning direction that enables one woman to fill the stage
for two hours. But the accolades must go to the silver-voiced Robinson and her
infamous impersonation skills. As we saw
in her hit show 'You Might as Well Live' which recreated 20 tragic
songstresses, she can transform into anybody.
.
Kate Herbert
[1]˘
˜Patsy Cline: Her Songs, Her Storyˇ
˜ Bernadette Robinson Universal Theatre ˇ
˜(ˇ
˜no closing date)
ˇ
˜
Patsy Cline didn't
have much luck outside of her Country and Western career. She married young,
divorced, married again to a philanderer and spendthrift. Her first agent
managed to keep her poor. A car accident almost killed her. Finally she died in
a plane crash. Light planes and bad weather are ill-portents for singing stars.
Bernadette Robinson embodies Patsy Cline to a tee. She has
the twitchy movements, the chintzy dresses and the smarmy, seductive C & W
smile - and she has the voice. Her performance is relaxed and engaging as she
strolls about the stage changing costumes as often as she changes songs.
Her performance is relaxed and engaging as she strolls about
the stage changing costumes as often as she changes songs.
Some of her top hits are included: Crazy, I Fall to Pieces,
Your Cheatin' Heart and Walkin' After Midnight. Considering she died 35 years
ago at the age of 30, she made her mark
and has become a country music icon after death. The gay community loves her.
Robinson is supported by musical director, Mark Jones, on
piano with a versatile band (Quentin Frayne, Ed Bates, Steve Purcell) providing
authentic backing music and vocals in the style of the Jordanaires. The design
by Louise McCarthy and lighting by Adrian Cherubin successfully support the
piece.
Director Kaarin Fairfax has kept the pace moving on stage
with some slick and cunning direction that enables one woman to fill the stage
for two hours. But the accolades must go to the silver-voiced Robinson and her
infamous impersonation skills. As we saw
in her hit show 'You Might as Well Live' which recreated 20 tragic songstresses,
she can transform into anybody.
Kate Herbert
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