PicksInSix Review: Forever Plaid
“Forever Plaid” Soars on Angel Wings!
The lads in plaid descended from the afterlife to Drury Lane Theatre on Thursday night to complete their first professional gig, a 1964 journey to the airport Hilton cocktail bar, The Fusel-Lounge, cut short by a fatal collision with a school bus headed for the Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The story might have ended there with the group harmonizing a favorite chord while on the way to pick up new plaid tuxes for the gig, except, of course, for divine intervention, the magic of live theatre and the fertile and creative mind of Stuart Ross.
Ross, with musical arranger James Raitt, created the runaway hit “Forever Plaid” in 1989 so that the rest of us will never forget the complex artistry and sheer beauty of the musical legacy of ‘50s era vocal groups when pitch-perfect harmonies ruled the day. What is most memorable for me when I saw the original New York run of ‘Forever Plaid” performed on a small, sparse stage where costumes and props were rarely just out of reach, was the razor-sharp synchronization of the voices and choreography. The glorious and effortless execution of diverse musical styles and the endearing quality and comic timing of the cast helped launch the show to critically-acclaimed productions around the globe.
Fast-forward to 2021 and the palpable excitement in the Drury Lane house for the reopening of live performances after a long pandemic intermission as The Four Plaids took the stage. This lush, effervescent production is directed and choreographed by Paul Stancato with the same finely-tuned Raitt arrangements, production music director Valerie Maze, and an exuberant, spirited cast with sumptuous voices all playing out in a glistening venue. The Kristen Martino set is gorgeous in its simplicity, incorporating massive vintage swathes, punctuated by Rachel Boylan’s costumes, exquisite, state-of-the-art lighting and special effects by Lee Fiskness all combining with Ray Nardelli’s brilliant sound design for a 90-minute show that soars on the wings of angels.
Those angels—Brian Eng (Sparky), Michael Ferraro (Francis), Yando Lopez (Jinx) and A.D. Weaver (Smudge)—are individually and collectively terrific. Maze serves as onstage conductor/keyboardist with Chuck Webb (bass) and Jim Widlowski (drums/percussion).
While cultural references may be lost on some, these songs speak to us particularly at this time. In one way or another we have all felt the loss of precious opportunities (“Moments to Remember”), wished that we could will the times to change for the better (“Catch a Falling Star”), find solitude and kinship (“Shangra-La”, “Sixteen Tons/Chain Gang”) and express our love for one another(“Crazy ‘Bout You Baby”) or, and most importantly, escape to a time of innocence, gaiety and fun (“Lady of Spain”, “Heart and Soul” and “Mercury”) that we have missed in the shared experience of theater.
Mirror balls, bubble machines and confetti cannons notwithstanding, Sparky, Francis, Jinx and Smudge havn’t aged a day, all these years later and will arrest your musical senses all night long. But only through November 7. Then it’s off to the hereafter.
PHOTO|Brett Beiner
DRURY LANE THEATRE
presents
FOREVER PLAID
through November 7
WEBSITE
TICKETS
For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago
PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC