Always… Patsy Cline
by Ted Swindley
Directed by Michael Hamilton
STAGES St. Louis
August 11, 2021
Diana DeGarmo, Zoe Vonder Haar
Photo by ProPhotoSTL
STAGES St. Louis
Always… Patsy Cline was the first show I saw from STAGES St. Louis, back in 2014 at the Westport Playhouse. That was the second year STAGES had produced the show, which is now their all-time best seller. Now, as the company officially moves into their big, shiny new venue at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center and after missing a summer last year due to the pandemic, STAGES is back with a new staging of their biggest hit, with one of the original cast members and an excellent new addition, celebrating the power of friendship and the music of a legendary singer, Patsy Cline. As it was then, it’s a show full of great music, strong production values, and a lot of energy and heart.
The two biggest differences between this production and the last one I saw 7 years ago are the venue and the performer playing Patsy, while there is a welcome sense of continuity as well in the form of the general look and feel of the show and its other leading lady. Veteran local performer Zoe Vonder Haar returns as Houston, TX divorcee, mother, and country music fan Louise Seger, who becomes a big fan of Cline’s and then manages to form a friendship with the singer. This time, Patsy is played by Broadway and American Idol veteran Diana DeGarmo, and the venue is a lot bigger than the tiny, somewhat cramped quarters at Westport. As a result, the show has more of an “opened up” feel this time, although the fun moments of audience interaction and the leads’ interactions with the onstage band are still as vibrant as ever.
This story is a simple one–Seger becomes a fan of Cline’s through her music, then goes to a concert and meets the singer in person, and the two quickly form a friendship. The main focus of the show is on the music, and many of Cline’s biggest hits are featured, like “I Fall to Pieces”, “Crazy”, “Sweet Dreams”, and a lot more. What’s especially on display here, along with the great songs, is the interaction between the excellent DeGarmo and Vonder Haar as Patsy and Louise. Vonder Haar, as she was before, is energetic, outgoing, and personable as Louise, and DeGarmo is an excellent addition to the cast as Patsy, singing the songs well, especially in her mid-range, belting style, although she does struggle a little with volume on some of the low notes at times. DeGarmo also brings a lot to the role acting-wise, shining in quieter moments as Vonder Haar narrates the story. There are also a few fun duets between the two, with Act 2’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky” a standout moment.
Technically, the show looks great, with James Wolk’s set filling out the new venue’s stage especially well, with a detailed early 1960’s look. Sean M. Savoie’s lighting adds to the period feel, as do Brad Musgrove’s colorful costumes. There’s also an excellent band led by musical director and pianist Jeremy Jacobs.
If you’ve seen this show before at STAGES, you’ll know what to expect, although it’s worth checking out again. With a brand new venue and a great cast, and that great Patsy Cline music, this a show that’s sure to entertain. It’s not a surprise that this is STAGES’ best-selling show, with its sheer audience appeal. It’s at once a return to an old friend and a welcome to a new era for a familiar and celebrated local theatre company.
Diana DeGarmo, Zoe Vonder Haar
Photo by ProPhotoSTL
STAGES St. Louis
STAGES St. Louis is presenting Always… Patsy Cline in the Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center until September 5, 2021
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