I’ll admit to having some trepidation in the final show of the 2008/2009 Stage West season. My parents were just kids when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash on February 3rd, 1959. By the end of the opening night of the production, I leapt to my feet with the rest of the audience for a much-deserved standing ovation – the third time I have witnessed this in five seasons of covering Stage West.
The Buddy Holly Story chronicles the life of music icon Buddy Holly, played by Zachary Stevenson, from late teens in Lubbock, Texas through his rise to fame. With Mother’s Day approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to invite my Mom Linda and her friend Shirley to the show. Their delighted reactions were almost as entertaining as the show itself.
”He moves just like Buddy did!” Mom exclaimed during intermission. “It is like actually seeing him here.”
Stevenson has absolutely captured the essence of Buddy Holly. When he sings, it is easy to close your eyes and hear Holly shining through, just like he did on the old records my parents listened to while I was growing up. Stevenson is part of indy-rock group The Human Statues, and just like me was born decades after Holly’s death. I asked what the appeal was in playing the character.
”As a musician I have a fascination with all pop music and its origins. [The Human Statues’] primary musical influence is The Beatles, and one of their top influences was Buddy Holly. It doesn’t take long to trace back his influence to us. So dissecting his life, where he came from and the type of tunes that he wrote, and how his career developed is interesting, even in relation to our own musical pursuits,” he said. “Another thing that is kind of cool is, because we are too young to have lived in that era, it gives us a different perspective. We don’t hold it in a nostalgic way, there is a separation from it which helps as an actor. If I had a preconceived idea of who he was, I might attack it in a different way. It is like experiencing the music from the inside out, I am in the mind frame that these are new tunes that are fresh and exciting. It is a different experience to play it that way.”
Stevenson’s partner in The Human Statues, Jeff Bryant, explained how the show transcends the generation gap.
”The music is rooted in great melodies and harmonies and things that transcend genre and era. People of any age respond to the music. Obviously for the older demographic there is the nostalgia thing, it brings them back to memories that they had. We did not exist when these songs came out so that is not the reason we respond to it. People just respond to good melody. I have no doubt that people of any age have an opportunity to enjoy this show, it is very accessible.”
The show culminates in re-creating Holly’s last performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It is at this point where the show elevates from a musical into a magical experience. Aaron Walpole and Dominic Calla add their own authentic turns as The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens respectively, before Stevenson plays a string of Holly hits, backed up by the entire ensemble. It is intense, electrifying, and simply amazing. Even as someone who didn’t experience Holly’s original music first hand, I was singing along, bobbing my head, and clapping - caught up in a wistful feeling I didn’t know I could tap into.
If you are looking for a good way to celebrate your Mom, without a doubt The Buddy Holly Story is a great way to do it. Even if you don’t take someone older, the show is worth checking out and learning about an artist that profoundly influenced the music of today.
”You will have a good time. If I were a producer I would do a money back guarantee. I have a lot of confidence in the quality of the show, story and music. Even if you are young, you will be surprised at the number of songs you know,” Stevenson assures. “You hear the songs so many times as original recordings, but very few people are performing Buddy Holly live in any context. The performers have gone to reasonably great lengths to do as authentic a version as possible, and give you an experience of what those shows were like in the 50’s. You get absorbed into the world and learn about a very interesting character, and insight into what the rock n roll culture was then. It had a massive impact on the development of pop music. I think anybody who has an interest in music will enjoy the show.”
The Buddy Holly Story marks the final show at Stage West before they close for extensive renovations over the summer. They reopen August 297h with Married Alive. After the contractors are done invading, surely 2009/2010 will bring more glorious shows at Stage West.

Read an in-depth interview with The Human Statues at www.GayCalgary.com