The cast of ‘Forever Plaid.’ Photo provided by Connor Moore.
Forever Plaid is back from the dead to perform one final concert. In this musical, currently playing at Dundalk Community Theatre, the 1960s group performs some of their favorites for us in perfect four-part harmony.
It’s 1964 in East Pennsylvania. Forever Plaid is on their way to pick up some groovy plaid tuxes when their car collides with a bus of parochial schoolgirls, and the boys are instantly killed. Somehow, the group returns to play for us, the largest audience they’ve ever had the privilege to perform for.
…the boys are truly funny and engaging.
Really, the show is quite simple. There’s not much of a plot – just four guys singing for an audience (Nathan Beyer as Smudge, Ryan Slattery as Sparky, Connor Moore as Jinx, and Josh Schoff as Francis). There’s no set – the background is just a black curtain with four stools for the singers in front. There’s no need for outrageous costumes and multiple costume changes – the guys wear white dinner jackets in the first act and change into those awesome plaid dinner jackets in the second. There are only four actors in the whole show. And the group is accompanied by just a piano and a guitar (Bob DeLisle on bass). But there is magic in this simplicity – it just works. Because there isn’t so much to focus on, we’re able to appreciate what really matters – the voices. And thankfully, these are some truly amazing voices. When the four voices blend together, it’s well, heavenly.
Of course, if there was just singing in this musical, it would be a concert. The boys incorporate humor and stories and even some audience interaction into their performance. At the beginning, the group asks the audience what year they’re in; later in the show, an audience member is chosen to go onstage to play the piano. The boys bring us into their lives and charm us with their humor and warmth (making me kind of wish I was back in the 1960s when everything was simpler).
Speaking of humor, the boys are truly funny and engaging. At the beginning, the guys say “it’s time to start the show; check your flies” before launching into a beautiful rendition of “Three Coins in the Fountain.” At another point in the show, the group uses toilet plungers as microphones; after all, that’s how they practiced in their basement. And then there’s always Jinx (Moore), who adds humor by going the wrong way – or somehow getting a nosebleed in the middle of the show.
The older audience went crazy for the group. It seemed like everyone was familiar with the 1960s songs, and they were hysterical when there was a bit about the Ed Sullivan show (something I wish I would have understood better!). The audience also fully participated during the Calypso song, “Matilda” (you couldn’t help but get into the beat).
This was the show the boys never got to do in real life, and I’m so glad they got the chance to perform this show for us. Most of the songs were recognizable – and all were performed beautifully.
“Forever Plaid” was only performed the weekend of September 23rd to the 25th at Dundalk Community Theatre. For more information at shows at Dundalk Community Theatre, click here.
