Patsy Cline music and recipes live on with stage tribute
From the Farm
The music of the late great Patsy Cline has filled the kitchen of our farm for decades, long after the country and western singer’s tragic death at age 30 in a plane crash on March 5, 1963.
Cline ranks as one of my mother Peggy’s all-time favorites, a fan fondness that began as soon as Patsy became an overnight celebrity singing sensation after appearing on Arthur Godrey’s TV show “Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts,” singing “Walkin’ After Midnight” on the January 21, 1957, CBS broadcast. Patsy, whose mother Hilda Hensley fibbed to Godfrey when she posed as her daughter’s agent, won the $10,000 top prize. After the show, producers continued to book Patsy, but told her to wear more glamorous sequin gowns and “lose the cow-girl fringed outfits and cowboy hats.” Patsy’s mom, who made all of her clothes, was not pleased.
My mom and Patsy also share the same unhappy footnote surviving terrible car accidents, but with prayers, strength and perseverance, both also were blessed with making fullrecoveries.
More than 55 years later, Cline’s musical story and journey continues to reach new generations.
Due to popular demand, Firebrand Theatre in Chicago just announced a third and final extension of its hit revival of “Always…Patsy Cline,” now playing through Feb. 23 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.
For this leg of the run, Missy Wise joins the cast as Patsy Cline, with Harmony France stepping into Patsy’s pumps for the final weekend of shows Feb. 21-23. In the two-person hit show, it’s Firebrand Co-Founder Danni Smith, who originally hails from Logansport, Indiana, who is the dynamo playing Patsy Cline’s biggest fan-turnedfriend Louise Seger.
“Always…Patsy Cline” is written by Ted Swindley, with direction by Brigitte Ditmars and music direction by Andra Velis Simon, based on a true story from the accounts of Houston, Texas fan Seger. The moving and memorable musical, has both humor and a folksy country charm along with featuring 27 of Patsy’s unforgettable hits such as “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Walking After Midnight.” The show’s title was inspired by Patsy’s letters to Louise, which were consistently signed “Love AL
WAYS… Patsy Cline.” The real life Seeger died at age 72 at her home in Texas in November 2004.
Curtain times for “Always…Patsy Cline” are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $40 general admission and $50 VIP cabaret table and $20 for students available at firebrandtheatre.org or 773-697-3830.
Patsy’s Cline’s mother, Hilda Hensley, was a wonderful cook as well as seamstress. She died at age 82 (she was only 16 when she gave birth to Patsy in 1932) in December 1998. After Cline’s death, Hilda helped Patsy’s husband Charlie Dick raise the singer’s daughter Julie and son Allen, both whom lived with her for several years in Winchester, Va. In 2012, the
Winchester-Frederick County Visitor’s Center and the Patsy Cline Historic House, the latter where Cline lived until 1957 and continued to visit until her death, released a cookbook filled with the favorite recipes of Patsy and her mother Hilda. One of the favorite recipes is for a luscious black walnut layered cake iced with a delicious cream cheese frosting, which Patsy’s mom would bake for her to welcome her home from touring on the road.
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org or mail your questions: From the Farm, P.O. Box 68, San Pierre, IN 46374.