A trailblazer then. A trailblazer now.
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That’s how actor and singer Courtney Conway describes legendary country singer Patsy Cline as she prepares to play the icon in Always...Patsy Cline at Merimbula’s Twyfold Hall this weekend.
“I love Patsy. I think she was a fantastic artist and woman,” Conway said.
“She basically lived in a man’s world and was told she wasn’t allowed to be a performer.
“But she divorced him. She was such a strong woman that she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
The show is based on a true story about Cline’s endearing friendship with Houston fan Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961 and continued a correspondence with Cline until her early death.
The show’s title was inspired by Cline’s letters to Seger, which were consistently signed ‘Love ALWAYS…Patsy Cline’.
Conway has enjoyed playing the “very sassy” character since the first performance in June last year.
“I knew a little bit about her because my parents listen to country music,” Conway said.
“I had to learn a huge amount more. They’re huge shoes to fill.
“People have come up to me after the show who hold Patsy so high in their minds and said, ‘that was amazing’.”
Conway is not a natural actor, having largely secured the role due to her country singing roots.
But AFI award-winning director Denny Lawrence has persevered with the star of the show.
“Learning the script was a challenge. I’m used to improvising and find it easier to talk from my heart or mind,” Conway said.
“I found it really hard to say the same thing every single time, but Denny had a lot of patience with me.
“I rehearsed four weeks every day all day until I was saying the words in my sleep.”
Despite the change in performance style, Conway has enjoyed performing in “beautiful theatres” across Australia.
“All the attention is on you, not like in a pub with noise in the background and people playing the pokies,” she joked.
When all eyes are on Conway she performs an array of Cline’s classic hits, but finds it hard to decide on a favourite.
“Now it’s ‘I Fall to Pieces’, which features at the start of the show,” she said.
Conway’s awards include Best New Talent at the 2011 VIC and National Country Music Awards, as well as Single of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year awards at the 2015 West Australian Country Music Awards.
Her debut album made it into the top 10 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums chart.
Always...Patsy Cline is the first major performance in support of the Twyford Theatre By The Sea project.
The production will be performed at Twyford Hall Merimbula on June 27 to 28 at 7.30pm.
Head to www.trybooking.com or pre-purchase tickets at the Merimbula newsagency.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Conway said.
“I’ve heard it’s really lovely in Merimbula.”