A review of ‘A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline’, at The Belfry Theatre

You don’t have to be a country music fan to love ‘A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline’.

This sizzling hot show just about breaks down the walls at the Belfry Theatre, shaking the audience to its core, thanks to singer Leora Cashe in the title role.

What a voice.

Like the legendary chanteuse she portrays, Cashe belts out one hit after another, bringing the audience to its feet, and tears to its eyes…

Cashe is the undisputed star of this show. Her clear, powerful sound filled the house. Once she started singing Clines’ first big hit, ‘Walking After Midnight’, halfway through act one, there was no turning back. Cashe got bigger and better as the evening progressed, bringing the house down with her rabble-rousing rendition of ‘Bill Bailey’, followed immediately by the stirring, heart-felt ‘Crazy’, another Cline hit.

After a near-fatal car accident in 1961, Patsy Cline- like many country singers- turned to gospel music. As a tribute to this part of the country legend’s repertoire, Cashe sends chills down audiences spines with ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee’.

Whether she’s singing ballads, blues or country pop, Cashe is phenomenal.

Although Cashe is not a Patsy Cline clone- nobody could be- the passion, the vocal flexibility and the rich, pure tones are there, loud and clear.