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Alessandra Djurklou Staff Writer for Press Telegram
Patsy
and pal A story about friendship and country music
THERE HAVE been a few musicals floating around Long Beach lately paying tribute to musical stars who died young in plane crashes. But unlike last month's "Buddy," ' "Always Patsy Cline," ' which opens Saturday at the Carpenter Center and stars Christa Jackson and Sally Struthers, is not a biographical study of the famous country singer.
Rather the Musical Theatre West-produced show, which was created by Ted Swindley in New York almost a decade ago, is more the story of a friendship between two strong women -- Cline and one of her biggest fans, Louise Seger.
"It' s unfortunate if someone is an avid Patsy Cline fan,'' said Struthers, who plays Louise, who is still alive and living in Texas, unlike Cline, who died 41 years ago.
But the story, Struthers adds, nonetheless gives audiences a good glimpse at the kind of woman Cline was, and, particularly, what kind of a friend she was.
"They were both a couple of good old girls," ' Struthers said, adding that Cline was drawn to Seger, because she, like Cline, was not afraid to flout convention. Seger was a single mother in an era when divorce was much frowned upon, and Cline had had her share of affairs and rocky marriages.
The friendship, unfortunately, was brief. The two met in 1961, when Seger, a devoted fan, wanted to meet Cline. They met at a venue in Houston, and hit it off immediately.
Swindley, inspired by this connection, framed his two-woman show around it -- letting Seger tell the story, for the most part, in a multilayered monologue. But Cline fans should not be disappointed by the format, since the show does include 27 of her hits, including "Walkin" After Midnight,'' "Crazy," ' "Your Cheatin" Heart'' and "I Fall to Pieces." '
Virginia Patterson Hensely was born in 1932 in Virginia, to a teenage mother and an unwilling father who had been forced to marry. Young Ginny had musical aspirations by age 4, and by 14 was looking for gigs. By age 20, she had joined forces with musician Bill Peer, who changed her name to Patsy (she also took her first husband's last name, Cline).
Her first hit came in 1956, when she recorded "Walkin" After Midnight.'' Cline disliked that song, just as she would dislike her biggest hit, "Crazy," ' which came five years later and was penned by then-unknown Willie Nelson.
"Crazy" ' really launched her career, and it was the success from that song that led to the tour that led to the 1963 plane ride that killed her.
But since a friendship is the cement that holds together "Always Patsy Cline," ' it seems fitting that a friendship is what brought together the cast in this production.
"Sally and I met on 'Grease," '' said Christa Jackson, who plays Cline to Struthers' Seger. Jackson played Sandy in the national tour of "Grease," ' and Struthers played teacher Mrs. Lynch.
Jackson and Struthers, like Cline and Seger, hit it off during that tour.
A few years later, Struthers got the Louise role in "Always... Patsy Cline." ' When her co- star, Rachel Ricca, had a scheduling conflict, Struthers knew exactly what to tell producers.
"I only knew one young woman," ' Struthers said. "And she blew them away." '
That, of course, was Jackson, who has been a Cline fan forever.
"I was basically raised on her," ' Jackson said. "I think 'Crazy" was the first song I ever sang.''
Though the show is framed through the lens of Louise's perception, Jackson said she still gets a good idea of what Cline's life was like.
"You see her life, you see how hard it was," ' Jackson said. "To be able to pay tribute to it is an honor." '
Jackson and Struthers have been doing the show sporadically for almost three years. They started rehearsing their first gig at Los Angeles' Coronet Theatre on Sept. 12, 2001.
"It was not a lucky time to open the show," ' Struthers said.
Once people felt safer about going to the theater, however, the show took off.
And, though she has by now played Seger a number of times, Struthers never lets it go stale. Nor does Jackson.
''We never walk through it,'' she said.
Actually, according to Struthers, she flies through it.
"Every night, I envision myself being shot out of a cannon," ' she said.
But does she wear a helmet?
"I do, I have the biggest blond hair. Big Texas hair." '
Alessandra Djurklou can be reached at (562) 499-1252 or by e-mail at alessandra.djurklou@presstelegram.com
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