This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
By Faye Lamb, President of the Longmont Theatre Company
Melissa Swift-Sawyer's performance last night at the Longmont Theatre was literally breath taking. The audience shared their amazement over this woman's talent stopping the show with a standing ovation after the song “CRAZY”.
The signature song of Patsy Cline, Melissa croons “CRAZY” with emotion, her eyes revealing a sadness as she shares the feeling and history by taking the audience to a different place and time with this song. There was a huge twinkle in this 300-seat theatre that was very different and special.
Melissa sparkled. The show opens with Melissa sitting in a living room scene listening to a Patsy Cline vinyl record on an old turn table (record player). Melissa has sparkling eyes – the natural twinkle. Some people are blessed with those bright eye-stars that glitter and twinkle when they smile and laugh. Last night from the very beginning, Melissa’s eyes told you, she was going to connect with each and every person in the audience. The way she walked back and forth on the stage between microphones, leaning on the grand piano when pianist Rob Lowe shined in his keyboard moments, moving in and out of the other band members and talking to the audience about the talents of Richard Dean, guitar, Tom Broderick, steel guitar, Ken Robinson, bass, and Dan Dossey on drums. (Doug Krause in on piano Saturday and Sunday), Mateo Holman mixing sound and Matthew Deets on lights. The audience responded by talking back to Melissa, shouting, whistling, and with applause. She had the band, the band had her and the audience approved and participated in every moment.
At the beginning of every show, I do a curtain speech. I go on stage and talk to the audience about the theatre company, the present show, announcements, etc. For example, this show is the opening to Longmont Theatre Company’s 62nd season of live community theatre productions. That’s a huge accomplishment and I let the audience know! My last words as I exit down the steps off stage is “enjoy the show”. This is the cue to back stage and the light and sound booth, I am done, exiting the stage. The lights go down and I take a seat at the back of the auditorium.
Melissa opens the living room scene talking about Patsy Cline; then, she walks to the center of stage and begins singing. After this song, I went out into the theatre lobby and said to the staff, “Melissa is a STAR tonight more so than ever before.” The staff was already buzzing about the sound coming into the lobby – her voice, the band. What we were hearing in the theatre lobby – a good distance from the stage - was phenomenal. We all just looked at each other knowing this night was special – more special than usual.
At Intermission, the staff, and other theatre board members are available to the patrons to answer questions, give directions, or whatever is needed. On this night, the comments from the theatre goers about Melissa were:
I am amazed at this performance. She is unbelievable. This is a great show. Thank you for having this lady. What a voice. Melissa is an unbelievable entertainer. Where has she been? Is she touring? Is Longmont Theatre the only place she does this show (answer: yes, second year)? Do you have CDs for sale? This is amazing. I am stunned at this woman’s talent. If all your shows are of this quality, we will be back.
Act II was sensational with “CRAZY” bringing the house down or in this case rocking the old theatre in happiness filled with music (and twinkling). Melissa Swift-Sawyer is a very talented woman combining her musical gift and ability as an entertainer. Last night, there was an onstage intimacy between Melissa and the audience that was unique. An intimacy between a performer and audience that is very rare. The performer knows it and the audience knows it. And, this audience acknowledged their experience. Half way thru the second act as Melissa was holding the last note of Patsy Cline’s signature song “CRAZY”, the audience jumped to their feet with a standing ovation. People moved out into the aisle waving hands, whistling, and shouting bravo. The audience stopped the show. Truly, a night to remember for everyone. Thank you, Melissa – this was a performance people will talk about for years to come.
{Disclosure: I am the president of Longmont Theatre Company (LTC). Writing reviews (as some people would consider the above comments) of our productions is not my intent. However, as President, I do make comments on Facebook from time to time. This is the second year Melissa Swift-Sawyer has performed this show which she wrote specifically for LTC. The performance Friday, August 24, 2018 was something very special, unique. Sometimes in the performing arts a show of lifetime happens. This was one of those nights and needed to be written about. Faye Lamb, LTC President}
