An Evening with Patsy Cline

Last night Chuck and I ventured into the heart of downtown Nashville for the opening night of "Always...Patsy Cline." The show stars Mandy Barnett as Patsy Cline and Tere Myers as devoted fan Louise Seger. It returns to the Ryman Auditorium this spring to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Ryman's renovation.

I had never seen this show before, and last night I was mesmerized. Mandy Barnett has won raves for her performance, but regardless, it's something you have to see to believe. She sounded exactly like Patsy Cline, and she looked so much like the legend that it felt like seeing a ghost onstage. Her voice has a power that can give you chills.

The show is based on the letters Patsy Cline wrote to one of her biggest fans. After meeting Louise Seger at a show in Texas, Patsy kept in contact with Louise through the years, right up until her life ended in the 1963 plane crash. What struck me the most about the premise of the show is how different things are now in the world of music. Patsy Cline was performing during a time when artists were accessible to fans, when the "crazies" weren't out in force at every show, when true, personal connections could be made between the ticketholders and those behind the microphone.

Several of us were talking about those "old days" during the intermission, and we agreed that with very few exceptions, that time of true connection might be long gone. It's a sad reality for the newer artists, I think.

Before the Ryman show we attended the opening reception for the Opry Originals store on Broadway. It's a lovely place, and the prices are quite reasonable - they could charge more and get away with it! I particularly like the clothing, especially the Manuel duds. Chuck loved the Hee-Haw section and we both fell in love with the Hatch Show Print posters, of course. Those are a big weakness for both of us.

Today I have caught up on articles, worked ahead a bit, and planned out next week's schedule. Things are looking busy, and that's just the way I like it!