Patsy Cline tribute returns to WiLLow LeaVes

“Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline” returns to the WILLow LeaVes of Hope stage for a one night event at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The two-hour long show, starring Lisa Barrett as Patsy Cline and Naomi Fleetwood-Pyle as Louise, Cline’s best friend, chronicles the friendship between the two ladies while showcasing Cline’s greatest hits.

This show will be the third time Barrett and Pyle have performed it at WILLow LeaVes of Hope, Pyle says, and every time the show sells out.

“What is amazing is that a lot of the same people come every time,” Pyle says. “They just don’t get tired of it because they love Patsy Cline.”
Audience members can anticipate a few treats during this show, Pyle says.

“I am going to change up the script a bit,” Pyle says. “I am the comedic relief between her songs and I am always going to tell the same story about Patsy Cline, but I do try to do some silly jokes in between to keep the people laughing.”

Added to all-time Cline favorites, including “Sweet Dreams” and “Crazy,” is a cover of Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock” along with a couple of other surprises, Barrett says.

Amazingly, portraying Patsy Cline paying tribute to the King of Rock and Roll isn’t such a tall order.

While researching Cline, Barrett says she stumbled across footage of Cline covering “Jailhouse Rock” and that is what led to changes in her set list this time.

“She has more rock and roll in her than people would think,” Barrett says. “She did some hip gyrations and got the Elvis vibe going on.”

Having performed Cline so many times, Barrett says the late star has become a part of her.

“Once I get that wig and dress on and the look of that era, I am in Patsy mode at that point,” Barrett says.

However, prepping to impersonate Cline takes a bit more than a change in appearance. It requires that Barrett preps her vocal cords.

“She has a very wide range, so I make sure my vocal cords are limbered up,” Barrett says. “I listen to her and always rehearse the song ‘Faded Love’ because it is by far the hardest to sing.”

As Barrett has honed her skills as Cline, the real life friendship between she and Pyle has also grown.

"We are so comfortable with both our roles in the show that it comes off really easy,” Pyle says. “Lisa and I are truly best friends in real life, so the rapport between us on stage is very real.”

And having that rapport has certainly enhanced the ladies’ individual performances and the show overall, Barrett says.

“I pretty much know what she is going to just by a sideways glance,” Barrett says. “Naomi doesn’t always stay on script, so I just go with the flow on her portion of it. Our outside friendship has contributed to that I think.”

As the ladies prep for Saturday’s performance they look forward to seeing new and familiar faces and, as always, hope for a great turnout, they say.

“I want the people to walk out feeling good,” Pyle says. “I want them to walk out with warm fuzzies in their belly. In the end, it is a bit emotional, but the fact her music still sells tickets in this day in age lends a lot of credence to her longevity as an artist.”