A Patsy Cline Holiday Concert
Reviewed by Dana Martin
Sierra Madre Playhouse
Through December 23
RECOMMENDED
Cori Cable Kidder is channeling the star power of country music icon Patsy Cline at the Sierra Madre Playhouse this holiday season. A Patsy Cline Holiday Concert promises the most wholesome two hours of country music crooning this side of anywhere.
Music director San Paxton weaves in a decent amount of Christmas music without detracting from Cline’s signature tunes. The show is lengthy; 26 songs on the set list. The first act is long but lively, subtly suggesting Patsy’s younger years. The second act finds a more subdued and mature aspect of her persona. The band — Sean Paxton (piano), Mike Flick (Bass), Jim Miller (drums) and Kevin Tiernan (guitar) — work well together to bring the honky-tonk to us. There are some rocky transitions that will no doubt smooth over time.
Cori Cable Kidder is the embodiment of the iconic late singer — a sweet spitfire with incredible vocal ability. She emulates the richness and nuance of Cline’s delivery, with plenty of yodeling, vocal slides and twangy country crooning. Like Cline, she emotionally connects to the songs she sings. Kidder finds pleasant-if-timid banter with the audience that loosens up over the course of the evening. She finds fleeting moments of Cline’s brashness with the band and keeps the evening moving swiftly and sweetly, throwing in facts and quips about Cline’s life between torch songs and Christmas carols. Kidder properly wins over the audience with her innate Southern charm, her inviting presence and especially her commanding vocals.
Orlando de la Paz’ set design is a satisfying blend of holiday coziness and country music concert. The band takes up most of the stage, backlit by a star drop. The proscenium is bordered with painted holly and gives off vintage vibes. The sides of the stage are set for Cline to sit and croon by the fire or the radio, reminiscent of an old-time television special. Derek Jones’ lighting design adds richness and movement to the festive mood.
Sound engineer David Peters does his best to keep the vocals front and center. The sound is mostly well-mixed, though it does get a bit messy in the livelier songs when the drums are at full volume. There’s audible feedback coming from one of the speakers — a constant hiss that’s distracting to say the least. It’s indecipherable when the music is playing but competes with the performer in quieter moments.
Patsy Cline, the self-taught, self-made crooning queen of country music had several hits throughout her short career, including “Crazy” by a young Willie Nelson, “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I Fall to Pieces”. She died tragically in a plane crash on the way home from a performance in Kansas City, Missouri in 1963. A Patsy Cline Holiday Concert starring Cori Cable Kidder properly rings in the holiday season, and celebrates Patsy Cline as a loveable, larger-than-life persona with formidable talent and a lasting legacy.
Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre; Fri.- Sat.; 8 p.m., Sun., 2:30 p.m.; thru Dec. 23. (626) 355-4318 or sierramadreplayhouse.org. Running time: two hours with one 15-minute intermission.
