Patsy Cline is one of the most revered and most admired singers in the history of country music, in any genre for that matter. Her legacy is her subtle style of melding blues, country and heartache into beautiful music.

In the play Always... Patsy Cline, the relationship between Louise Seger and Patsy is introduced and explored in detail.

The story starts in the Grand Ole Opry, the iconic country tune-house where Patsy frequented in her time.

Louise tells the story straight to the audience, and brings us in, describing the first time she heard Patsy on the radio. In between the dialogue there are frequent musical numbers, which sets the tone and keep the flow and pacing.

The story unfolds with their first meeting at a performance in Houston. They connected over their love for music and good conversation. They strike up a friendship that continues well past their first meeting, where many letters and phone calls are exchanged.

Eventually, the show takes a different turn than the original high-spirited, joyous one and focuses in on the tragic and sudden death of the country star.

It was a moment that affected many Americans and we see just how it personally affects Louise as she tells of her feelings.

All throughout, the musical numbers match the emotional tone and anchor the show, they tie the scenes together as a continual story.

Up until the end of the show, there are musical numbers that unwind into more casual and upbeat songs that include duets between the actors and audience participation. There is even an encore, which comes as a pleasant surprise.

When I attended this show, I was expecting a play with some musical numbers (it is a Patsy Cline story after all), but a dialogue heavy piece that followed a classic theatrical structure.

What I got is a varied concert show with some scenes of dialogue.

The songs play a large role in the show, they are essentially a third character.

Unfortunately the actual character of Louise Seger (played by Kate Jaeger), is somewhat of a dud. The performance was respectable considering the character's material, but I was disappointed with the results.

The character was what you would call a woman with gumption.

She had a down-to-earth attitude, but sometimes her heartiness, country spirit, and unending folksiness was disconcerting. The writing is meant to be funny and lighthearted, but so many of the jokes miss the mark.

On the other side of the token, you have a standout performance by Eayman Ilika (kudos for unique name!) in the title role of Patsy Cline.

Her portrayal in the musical sequences was flawless and filled with the essence of the country siren.

Overall, I was satisfied with this production. I enjoyed getting to know this theater, which had been unfamiliar to me until this show, I relished the music of the show, and I thought the costumes were well designed.

This was a show that made an impression on me. I even bought a Patsy Cline CD simply to reintroduce myself to an underrated American treasure.

One final note, I am very excited about the upcoming Centerstage Theatre production of Aladdin - An English Panto. You should make time to support local theatre and attend that show.

For more information, go to centerstagetheatre.com.

John Daniel is a student at Federal Way High School.