By Kimberly Rau
Theatre by the Sea kicks off its 2025 summer season with the jukebox musical “Always…Patsy Cline,” a 27-song, two-woman show that offers a glimpse into an unlikely friendship between the country music star and one Texas superfan.
Louise, a housewife, is home taking care of her kids when she first hears a young Patsy Cline singing on television. She becomes a major fan of Cline’s voice, paying attention to every new album and hounding radio DJs to play Cline’s songs on heavy rotation. When Patsy comes to town, the two hit it off, and a friendship is born, albeit one that plays out mainly through the postal service. Louise and Patsy were pen pals for around a decade, until Cline tragically dies in a plane crash.
It’s a sweet, if very threadbare, story, but fortunately, what the show lacks in substance, TBTS makes up for in talent, from designers to actors.
In Matunuck, Meagan Lewis-Michelson is Patsy Cline, and you couldn’t ask for a better actor to portray the singer. Lewis-Michelson, a North Shore Music Theatre veteran, has played the role of Cline before, and is an easy fit for the role. She has a rich, deep voice, Cline’s mannerisms seem to come naturally, and her stage presence is magnetic. If the real Patsy Cline was like this, we can hardly blame Louise for wanting her for a friend.
Actor Mary Callanan makes her TBTS debut as the bold and funny Louise, a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and advocate for herself (and her nearest and dearest). Callanan is also blessed with a strong voice and spot-on comedic timing, and sounds lovely on the few occasions we get to hear her sing with Lewis-Michelson. The only complaint I have is the script doesn’t give Callanan, who has several Broadway credits under her belt, more opportunities to show off her voice. Hopefully we get to see more of both women in coming shows or seasons.
The thing I keep coming back to is the point of the show, because I’m still not entirely sure what it is. You could argue it’s about the strong bonds of female friendship, but we don’t get to see much of that until the first act is nearly over. There’s just not much story, making this closer to musical revue than jukebox musical.
Still, it’s not the worst start to the summer by far, and Lewis-Michelson and Callanan certainly have the talent to bring a tepid book up a few notches, especially under Kat Moser-Priddy’s direction. Moser-Priddy clearly trusts her actors enough to give them the freedom to explore their characters, and the result is a natural rapport that makes up for the script’s shortcomings.
The show is primarily set in the early 1960s, and scenic designer Cassie McKnight creates a versatile backdrop for the story, such as it is, seamlessly transitioning us from the Grand Ole Opry to Louise’s kitchen table, a honky tonk bar, and back home again. Paul Jonathan Davis’ lighting also goes a long way toward setting the show’s mood and is the perfect complement to McKnight’s sets.
Finally, the concept of keeping a musical’s band on stage is hardly unique, but “Always” is a show where the idea not only works, it’s essential to keeping the audience immersed in Louise’s world. Called the Bodacious Bobcats Band, the orchestra at TBTS becomes part of the show, and the sextet is fun to watch as they interact with the actors.
High-concept theater this is not, but it’s fun, and a nice, easy slide into summer in south county. Season ticket holders won’t be disappointed, and newcomers, particularly those with a taste for old-fashioned country music, should have a good time too.
“Always…Patsy Cline” runs through June 21, 2025, at Theatre By The Sea, 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield. Tickets may be obtained at the box office, online at theatrebythesea.com or by calling 401.782.8587.
