Sometimes the things that work best are the simplest. Take Forever Plaid, playing until April 23rd at Stage West. It may have a relatively simple storyline and set, but the show has so much heart and soul to it that it becomes a thing of beauty. Forever Plaid is everything that theatre should be, and is without a doubt one of the best Stage West productions I have ever seen.
Forever Plaid is one of the most popular and successful musicals in recent memory. It is the story of four young singers whose lives and dreams are taken away in a car crash in 1964, on their way to their first big concert. They are miraculously revived for the chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that they meant to perform that night.
I’ll admit a bias towards Michael Torontow, a gifted singer and actor who appeared in both California Dreaming shows. Torontow proves that he can back up his stellar vocals with his acting - he plays the part of “Frankie,” the quasi-leader of fictional group “The Plaids.” Joining Torontow in their Stage West debuts are Mark Uhre as “Jinx,” Jordan Bell as “Sparky” and Dale R. Miller as “Smudge.” All three co-stars are just as talented, and when put together in an ensemble, they create a chemistry that cannot be faked. All four actors put so much into the piece and they harmonize beautifully together. Musical director Brent Rock backs them up on piano along with Jeff Fafard on percussion and Rob Vause on bass.
The show is targeted towards an older crowd, who will recognize many of the 50’s songs throughout the show, and no doubt find a sketch about The Ed Sullivan Show to be hysterically funny. With that in mind, I invited my Mother to this particular show, and in the mood for something different we attended a Sunday brunch showing instead of the usual evening dinner show. While this regrettably meant I didn’t get to try the frog’s legs on the evening menu, the eggs florentine, assortment of sausages, lemon chicken, samosas and the usual spectacular array of desserts made up for it. It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday morning, and if you’ve wanted to check out a Stage West, show tickets for the brunch are cheaper than the evening tickets.
Back to the show, honestly it’s hard to really express how great Forever Plaid is. All four have captured the innocent goofyness of the characters. It doesn’t take long to be drawn in by these four great guys who are just so darn likeable. Despite bickering amongst themselves, when they tell a story – such as how they got Perry Como to come to see one of their performances, or how they would make homemade record sleeves of what their album covers would look like – you find yourself feeling sorry their dreams were never fulfilled.
While the acting is superb and the story sweet, what will give you chills is the harmonizing. It is awe inspiring watching the four sing songs like Chain Gang, Sixteen Tons, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Papa Loves Mambo and Rags to Riches. I have a hard time believing that these four guys met only a month ago during the start of rehearsals – they gel so well together I would think they actually have been singing together for years.
I loved this show. My Mother loved this show. The audience loved this show, and expressed that with a well-deserved standing ovation. You don’t have to recognize the music or have been alive in that era to appreciate what happens on stage. It’s the heart of the show that captures your imagination. It’s an emotional experience – especially the closing moments, which I refuse to say any more about.
Do yourself a favor and get tickets to this show. Go with friends, take your family, take your parents – it’s a show for everyone, and is not to be missed..
Forever Plaid
Stage West Theatre Restaurants
727 42 Ave SE
(403) 243-6642
