Total Rating: 
**3/4
Opened: 
September 25, 2001
Ended: 
November 11, 2001
Other Dates: 
Reopened July 26, 2005; Ended September 4, 2005
Country: 
USA
State: 
Florida
City: 
Sarasota
Company/Producers: 
Coastal Productions
Theater Type: 
Regional; Dinner Theater
Theater: 
Golden Apple Dinner Theater
Theater Address: 
25 North Pineapple Avenue
Phone: 
941-366-5454
Running Time: 
1 hr, 45 min
Genre: 
Musical Bio
Author: 
Book: Ted Swindley, based on biography of Patsy Cline by Ellis Nassour; Songs: various composers
Director: 
Annabelle Weenick
Review: 

If you like country music, this "Patsy Cline song revue" is for you. And if you like pop music but think you don't like "country," this revue may make you think again. After all, Cline was a pioneer crossover songstress. She nuked the "sub" in a subgenre, her songs surfing into traditionally country waves such as "Honky Tonk Merry Go Round" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" on to sophisticated ballads like "You Belong to Me" and "True Love." They're among two dozen numbers well paced and distinctively rendered by Kyle Ennis Turoff as Patsy Cline. Though Turoff's voice naturally has more of a show-biz belting timbre, she captures admirably Cline's phrasing and emotional tones. Favorites like "Sweet Dreams," "Crazy," "I Fall to Pieces," "Seven Lonely Nights," and "Walkin' After Midnight" aren't neglected. True to their epithet of "Bodacious Bobcats," the excellent onstage musicians collaborate fully, launching into and leaving each number without a wrinkle. Always . . . Patsy Cline avoids being a concert by building its array of songs on a true story, dramatized. It's told by Louise Segar, an early Cline fan who becomes her friend after hearing her on radio, next promoting airing of her records, then meeting and hosting her, finally exchanging correspondence and calls until Cline's fatal plane accident. As a down-home Texas gal as upbeat as her updo, Louise goes "toolin' on" to supply comedy along with information. She's stalwart and positive throughout. As Patsy's growing fame and status are reflected in costume quality and changes (fringed western two-piecers with wide brimmed hats and tasseled boots are eventually replaced by sleek evening apparel with subtly placed "shine"), Louise sticks with go-to-dancin' buckskin vest, plaid shirt, jeans cinched by thick red-jeweled belt. Whether stomping with audience members or jawin' over coffee on the minimal set, Roberta MacDonald as Louise asserts her own bright star power.

Cast: 
Kyle Ennis Turoff, Roberta MacDonald; Musicians: William Foster McDaniel, Dave Thomas, Joe Bruno, John Januszewski
Technical: 
Music Dir.: William Foster McDaniel; Costumes: Rebecca Graves; Lights: Ben Turoff; Stg. Mgr.: Garry Breul
Miscellaneous: 
The director played Louise in a previous Sarasota production. "Patsy" and "Louise" are real-life daughter and mother.
Critic: 
Marie J. Kilker
Date Reviewed: 
September 2001