Aug 6, 2014 › Categories: Theater
Forever Plaid Hits A High Note
by Joe Siegel
The Plaids are a 1950s singing group that never was. As an offstage speaker informs us, the four clean-cut males were tragically killed in a crash on their way to their first concert. Forever Plaid, being performed at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket on August 9 and 10, features the Plaids delivering a show from beyond the grave. "The greatest comeback since Lazarus," says one of the Plaids as they appear in the opening moments of the show.
Francis (Dylan Bushe), Sparky (Adam Landry), Jinx (Gian Raffaele DiConstanzo) and Smudge (Spencer Soucy), all wearing white dinner jackets and slacks, harmonize and dance with clockwork precision. They are earnest, but exhibit good-natured humor. Bushe, Landry, DiConstanzo, and Soucy are engaging and attractive performers as well as fabulous singers. They are also skilled at doing bits of physical comedy. In the Act 2 song, "Lady of Spain," the troupe mimic performers from the Ed Sullivan show, including a juggler, a singing nun, puppeteers, and plate spinners. Their zeal and charm were truly winning.
Highlights included "Caribbean Plaid," a medley of Calypso songs, during which the Plaids interacted with the audience and encouraged them to sing along. Another great moment in the show had the Plaids bringing a female audience member on stage to dance and play "Heart and Soul" on the piano. Other favorites included "Crazy 'Bout You Baby," which had the Plaids using oversized toilet plungers as props, "Cry," featuring a great lead vocal by DiConstanzo, and the romantic closer, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."
Director John Guevremont deserves kudos for bringing out the best in his cast.
Forever Plaid is an affectionate tribute, as well as a parody of, the male singing groups of the 1950s. Life in America was a lot more innocent then. The Plaids's music was on vinyl, sexual innuendos didn't dominate popular culture, and Autotune didn't exist. The Plaids are the embodiment of everyone who had a dream and didn't live to see it come true.
Forever Plaid will be performed in the Stadium Marquee Room on Saturday, August 9 at 7:30pm and Sunday, August 10 at 2pm. Tickets are available at the Stadium Theatre Box Office or by calling 401-762-4545 and online at stadiumtheatre.com.
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