A voice like Patsy Cline:Naomi Morrison a hit portraying music legend
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Morrison, 17, pulled off a big coup with nods from the older set Friday night at the Arts Center of Cannon County, with some smiling, mouthing words familiar to them and rounding out the night with a standing ovation.
The Viola resident captivated the rest of the audience with her portrayal of songs familiar to everyone, singing classics like “Crazy,” “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “She’s Got You,” and “I Fall to Pieces,” as a story of a 1950s friendship unfolded in the musical comedy “Always … Patsy Cline.”
The story is told through the eyes of Louise Seger, Cline’s biggest fan and happenstance friend, played by actress Deborah Obenchain, who contributed Texas-inspired quirkiness and gave the audience quite a few laughs.
Locals attending were visibly impressed.
“I think it’s great,” Warren County resident Mira Woodlee said of the show and of Morrison, who sings 26 songs throughout the performance. “Her singing is incredible. She sounds so much like Patsy Cline and the interaction [with the audience] is great. We’re going to see more of her, there’s no doubt.”
Half of Friday’s audience indicated they saw the last show, performed in 2001, and thought enough of it to return to Woodbury for another show, which was sold out prior to frigid temperatures arriving in the area.
Jim Cunningham made the drive to Woodbury after hearing about the performance.
“If you shut your eyes, you’d think you were listening to Patsy Cline,” he said during the break.
“It’s one of the better ones I’ve been to,” added Jerry Chandler. “This is my fifth show and this is one of the best ones yet.”
Those are the kinds of reactions director Kaine Riggan had hoped for, but sensed would occur when he chose Morrison for the role a few years ago.
Riggan said due to a work conflict, Morrison and her father almost didn’t make the audition in Nashville, where hundreds had spent the day auditioning. But after some urging from Morrison’s father, Riggan alone decided to stay behind to wait until they could get there.
“She naturally had all the flips and tricks and nuances that Patsy Cline had. All the other girls had talent but you knew you had to work with them to get that sound,” he said.
Friday night seemed like just another day at the office for Morrison. After two rehearsals and a full-fledged performance, Morrison would do it all over again Saturday.
She said the older crowd’s approval is important to her because they would have lived through the time.
“It’s priceless,” she said of their appreciation for the music.
While much has been made about Morrison sounding like Cline, she said she doesn’t want to become trapped into becoming a Cline impersonator.
“It’s really easy to get billed as a Patsy Cline impersonator because so many people love her music,” she said. “To be a recording artist, you really have to have your own style and I am developing my own style.”
Morrison, whose dream is to one day perform at the Grand Ole Opry with her own songs, has also performed the show in Sevierville, Brownsville, Madisonville and Shelbyville.
Because of the sell-out crowds and successes of previous performances, the Arts Center of Cannon County has decided to extend the show and will offer it again Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling (615) 563-ARTS or 1-800-235-9073.