{"id":19553,"date":"2015-08-07T07:07:13","date_gmt":"2015-08-07T07:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/?p=19553"},"modified":"2015-08-13T15:59:15","modified_gmt":"2015-08-13T15:59:15","slug":"theatremusic-always-patsy-cline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/theatremusic-always-patsy-cline\/","title":{"rendered":"THEATRE\/MUSIC: ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE<\/h1>\n
\"The<\/a>

The program.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you see only one show in Los Angeles this summer, I’m suggesting it be, no–insisting<\/em>\u00a0it be–this one!\u00a0 No matter your taste in theatre, or music, you’ll be thrilled you saw Always…Patsy<\/em> Cline<\/em>.\u00a0 It’s a super fun-filled evening, and the music can’t be beat.\u00a0 If this production of it at the Sierra Madre Playhouse doesn’t win every theatre award that this city has to offer, it would be a travesty.<\/p>\n

Especially wonderful is the tour de force performance of Nikki D’Amico!\u00a0 She’s phenomenal!!!<\/p>\n

But, you know I have to go in order, so here are the scoops.<\/p>\n

\"Cori<\/a>

Cori Cable Kidder and Nikki D’Amico. Photo by Gina Long.<\/p><\/div>\n

Always…Patsy Cline<\/em> is a story so poignant that I just knew it had to be true!\u00a0 It’s actually a semi-famous show by Ted Swindley, which I had erroneously thought was about Patsy’s short life. \u00a0Turns-out, it’s based on a real experience Pasty had with a super-fan, from that fan’s perspective.\u00a0 It’s basically a monolog by the fan, (Nikki D’Amico,) with singing throughout by Cori Cable Kidder as Patsy. They do<\/em> interact occasionally, but the fan character seems to be doing 95% of the dialog.\u00a0 It’s very cleverly done; I’ve actually never seen anything like it.<\/p>\n

There are also five on-stage musicians, portraying Patsy’s band.\u00a0 And they really do look like they’ve just come straight from the Grand Ole Opry!\u00a0 (Surprisingly, it turns out that the music director, Sean Paxton, booked the other four men just three days before the opening!\u00a0 You could not tell that at all!)<\/p>\n

\"Part<\/a>

Part of the lobby display. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

I know this is a show that’s been produced many times since it’s original off-Broadway run, but I can’t imagine that it’s ever been done better. This smaller L.A. theatre hit the jackpot when they found these two performers!!!\u00a0 It’s a very well-written show to begin with, and the Sierra Madre Playhouse has an especially good production of it, directed by Robert Marra.<\/p>\n

For those of you LA hipsters who think that you’re not a fan of country music, just put that out of your head.\u00a0 Patsy’s music is iconic, and Cori sings it all beautifully.\u00a0 I’ve rarely heard Patsy’s records, but from the little I have, it seems like Cori’s renditions are spot-on.\u00a0 When I decided to go see this \u201cplay with music,\u201d (as I dubbed it, as opposed to being an outright musical,) I actually had forgotten that I’m not into the older country music.\u00a0 (I am now, sort-of, due to acts like Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.)\u00a0 But I’m so glad I saw this show.\u00a0 It was truly a delight. (Did I just turn into my mother for that last sentence?!)<\/p>\n

\"Nikki<\/a>

Nikki D’Amico and Cori Cable Kidder on just one third of the great set. Photo by Gina Long.<\/p><\/div>\n

Nikki D’Amico put me at ease right away.\u00a0 What a free performance she gave!\u00a0 The show begins with “Patsy” just singing with her band, and I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be into hearing just that for an hour.\u00a0 But, the second Nikki bounded on-stage, (playing the fan,) the energy picked right up, and never wavered after that.\u00a0 She gives one of the most secure, full-of-life performances I’ve ever seen!\u00a0 It includes much physical comedy, and even singing and dancing a bit, along with the verbal humor. On opening night, she had the entire audience in the palm of her hand from the get-go. (And her pathos at the end gave me chills. \u00a0And tears.)<\/p>\n

\"Cori<\/a>

Cori Cable Kidder as Patsy Cline, sitting in yet another area of the fabulous set. Photo by Gina Long.<\/p><\/div>\n

Nikki should next do a one-woman show of Carol Burnett!!!\u00a0 (You’ll agree with me the second you see her.)\u00a0 This girl is a revelation, and she deserves to win the Ovation Award, the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award, and the new-ish Stage Raw Award. And any other ones that are out there.\u00a0 This performance is that<\/em> special!<\/p>\n

And Kidder’s Patsy is the perfect partner for Nikki and her comedic antics.\u00a0 She doesn’t have much of an acting part to do, but her singing is excellent.<\/p>\n

Even the band members do their little bits of shtick with flare.\u00a0 And the set, by John Vertrees, is perfect.\u00a0 It’s well-appointed and completely utilitarian.\u00a0 Actually, everyone connected with the show should be applauded.\u00a0 (My only one ever-so-slight criticism is that Nikki’s bracelets were making a bit of distracting noise when I saw it.\u00a0 So, she should wear just one.\u00a0 But that’s it.)<\/p>\n

\"There's<\/a>

There’s a fun, appropriate exhibit in the lobby, which includes this “Patsy” cut-out. Doesn’t INAM’s Karen Salkin look happy to stick her head out of it? Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

And now a word about the Sierra Madre Playhouse itself: It felt just like Summer Stock to me!\u00a0 I love that feeling!\u00a0 (Well, outside of how sizzling the temp in the lobby is.\u00a0 But it’s a zillion times better in the actual theatre.)\u00a0 Even walking outside at intermission brought back wonderful memories of seeing shows in Bucks County in the summer with my family.\u00a0 And it’s not even a really small theatre; it’s just the right size. The stage can be seen easily from every seat. (It looks like it was a movie theatre in a previous life.) Sierra Madre is a beautiful little community, one that I had never been to before, but plan to visit again soon.<\/p>\n

To add to the charm of the evening, we were treated to a lovely opening night party with the cast and crew, complete with laudatory speeches, which I loved.\u00a0 Most fetes of that ilk have just schmoozing, with no back stories. Everything that Artistic Director Christian Lebano had to say about the show was interesting.<\/p>\n

\"Cori<\/a>

Cori Cable Kidder, Christian Lebano, and Nikki D’Amico at the after-party. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

The celebration was held across the street and up the road a piece at adorable tea room, T-Neer.\u00a0 We loved it so much that I hope to go back and review it some day soon.\u00a0 (The party food was made by other friends of the theatre, and the tea room was kind enough to let them use their venue for the soiree, which was great because it has couches, and even tables outside for the hotter guests, such as I!)\u00a0 I’m always on the look-out for places that serve afternoon tea, so I’m considering this one a find!\u00a0 Maybe I’ll even drop-by before the next opening night.\u00a0 Or when I go back to see this<\/em> wonderful show a second time!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Always…Patsy Cline<\/em> running through September 27, 2015<\/strong>
\n Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre\u00a0 626-355-4318\u00a0 www.sierramadreplayhouse.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE If you see only one show in Los Angeles this summer, I’m suggesting it be, no–insisting\u00a0it be–this one!\u00a0 No matter your taste in theatre, or music, you’ll be thrilled you saw Always…Patsy Cline.\u00a0 It’s a super fun-filled evening, and the music can’t be beat.\u00a0 If this production of it at the Sierra Madre<\/p>\n

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