Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Fools deliver bawdy musical

A revival of Patsy Cline romp opens in Hailey

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Come back to the Liberty, Patsy Cline, Patsy Cline.

Audiences called and she’s on her way back, albeit in the person of Debra Wagoner, in the musical memoir "Always…Patsy Cline" by Ted Swindley.

The Company of Fools is producing the play from June 23 through July 11 at the Liberty Theater in Hailey, and then from July 15 through July 17 at the Colonial Theatre in Idaho Falls.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. except the July 4 show at 7 p.m.

A full-voiced singer actress from Virginia, Wagoner thoroughly won over audiences in the valley last summer while performing in the first go round of "Always…Patsy Cline" and again in "Songs for a New World."

"Always…" is inspired by letters from Cline to a fan named Louise Seger. Cline was a great letter writer and always signed off: "Always, Patsy Cline."

Actress, lecturer and author Danielle Kennedy, of Ketchum, plays the vivacious and bawdy Seger, a perfect pen pal companion for the equally bawdy Cline.

The show features a live band made up of COF Musical Director R.L. Rowsey on piano, Dawson Howard on bass, Michael White on guitar, Joe Spencer on drums, and Sarah Kowitz on fiddle and mandolin. Twenty-seven songs, including Cline’s hits "I Fall to Pieces," "Crazy," "Back in Baby's Arms" and "She's Got You," are featured.

Born in Virginia in 1932, Cline won an Arthur Godfrey Talent show in 1957 with the hit "Walkin' After Midnight." During her short but brilliant career she befriended a young Loretta Lynn and influenced everybody from contemporaries Dottie West and Brenda Lee to K.D. Lang.

The production is directed again by Company of Fools member John Glenn. His work as a director here includes "The Philadelphia Story," "Side Man," "The Laramie Project," "Songs for a New World" and "Shirley Valentine."

The Liberty Theater has been transformed into a combination Grand Ole Opry and honky-tonk by set designer Dennis Rexroad, also the designer for COF productions of "The Laramie Project," "The Tempest," "Dinner With Friends," "James Joyce’s The Dead," "True West," "Side Man" and "The Seagull."

Café style seating is available for every show in the front of regular seating.

Lighting design is by Genny Wynn, who designed for many Company of Fools’ productions. She is now part of the faculty at Boise State University.

Period costumes with vintage fabrics were created by Elizabeth Weiss Hopper, who used actual photos of Cline at work and on stage as inspiration. She has designed costumes for over 200 productions in theatre, dance and opera.

The artist audience encounter "Fools Unplugged" is immediately following the Sunday performances.

Tickets are available at ticketweb.com, companyoffools.org or by calling 208-578-9122.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.