Mikki Prost: Patsy Cline Jukebox

[Gary R. Beck]

Mikki Prost

Patsy Cline Jukebox

Last Show of the Season: March 20 at 6 pm

This show has been a landmark in the career of Mikki since she employs the audience directly into her performance, to select a song or two from the sheet of nearly eighty Patsy Cline recordings. Mikki gathers herself and sings the song. Some tunes she said she knew, had sung at home, rehearsed and yet others she had a pre-recorded track here but had never sung this particular choice on stage. This is a sign of a true artist, one pushing the barriers, trying something new and delivering the goods. It is a Win-Win situation.

Here is our beloved local singer, dancer and actress who researches, writes and stars in her own tribute shows. She has been saluting ladies of song for many years from Patsy Cline to Connie Francis to Brenda Lee. What makes this latest creation so very special is that the audience is actually part of the evening's show. A printout of nearly eighty song titles lay on each table and anyone can select a song from this list to request Mikki perform. Find a favorite, call it out to her while Jacob in the sound booth sets the song in order on the evening's playlist.

She came bouncing out to an early smash "I Love You Honey" followed by "Walkin' After Midnight". Both tunes showcased Mikki's ability to swing the room and sing magnificently.

"Lovesick Blues", even though arranged with effervescence revealed her sadness. Mikki stirred the crowd with "Your Cheatin' Heart" from the icon Hank Williams. A surprise from Mikki was that the next song hardly created a ripple but knowledge of the recording spread and now is considered in her top ten: "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray". This is a great resounding sung song by Mikki, especially where it drips with tearful emotions.

Mikki wished to represent the love of Patsy along with her father of Gospel music and sang the pair's favorite tune "Life's Railway to Heaven". Her good amiga Louella requested the song as it was her dearest one, too. "Blue Moon of Kentucky" is always a pleaser and then she dropped the audience way down with "I Fall to Pieces" with an exceptionally emotional treatment. She picked everyone up by saying one of her lines from "Steel Magnolias": "The only difference between us and the animals is our ability to accessorize!"

A stunning "She's Got You" nearly ended the first set and with her powerful output, she could have done just that but had promised the audience the night's first "Crazy", written by Willie Nelson. That masterpiece by both Patsy and Mikki given lent the satisfaction that we were only half the way through the Patsy Cline memory path. 

After a much-needed intermission, Patsy returned but reflected her new audience of pop artists. Her songs continued to climb the Country charts but now she had expanded onto the Pop charts with a major impact. Her world enlarged wildly and her second marriage went in reverse. "Sweet Dreams" was delivered by Mikki in her unswerving way leaving the audience to remember, reflect and then applaud her for the interpretation which was in fact dreamy. When a chosen song was next on the assigned list, Mikki would talk with the requester and usually add an interesting story or anecdote of behind-the-scenes information, often piquing keen interest. 

She also informed the listeners that Patsy has Five Signature Songs: "Crazy", "Walkin' After Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces" "She's Got You" and "Sweet Dreams". "Have You Ever Been Lonely" she shared with Jim Reeves and they shared dying in plane crashes a year apart. Mikki kept the mood with "You Made Me Love You" popularized by Judy Garland, "Just Out of Reach" and "Leavin' On Your Mind". 

When "Back in Baby's Arms" started, the guests knew the tune immediately. That showed the fame of this swinging tune which Mikki sang and danced sashaying that cowgirl skirt. The requested "So Wrong", never sung on stage by Mikki, was next leading to how this show format which she had designed keeps enlarging her repertoire which thrilled her. 

Preparing for her next song, Mikki explained that it was a song which Patsy recorded through feelings of near divorce due to all the constant spousal abuse. "Just tell them like it was, honey" Patsy whispered into Mikki's ear as she straightened her back, sucked in air and released the emotions of "Imagine That". Every single time it brings sadness and tears to Mikki.

  

"Pick Me Up On Your Way Down"  The community will have to wait and see if Mikki brings back her jukebox theme next fall. Everyone who wishes to be a part of the show is able to do so, just raise the arm and call out. "Crazy" signaled to everyone that the show was reaching the finale. Once again she sang the arguably most important song of Patsy's.

Mikki is in her element when honoring this country-western superstar, her number one heroine. The heart-warming show blends superb music with memories. Mikki stated that she enjoyed so much watching the expressions on the faces in the crowd as they hear a song and their mind travels back to when they first heard it and what they were doing. Many times a particular song is an important part of one's life. Mikki is known for her warm rapport with audiences and she enjoys chatting with fans and sharing stories after her performances.

Boutique Dinner Theatre

Above Nacho Daddy’s
Basilio Badillo 287, Southside, second floor
322-728-6878
For tickets: www.btpv.org

Gary R. Beck 
Puerto Vallarta, JAL. http://groups.yahoo.com/g…/Puerto_Vallarta_OldTown_SouthSide 

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