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In harmony, forever
By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN © St. Petersburg Times, published May 18, 2001 If you've never seen the musical Forever Plaid, you might not understand why people go to see it again and again. Once you see it, though, you'll never wonder again. In fact, you'll probably be first in line to buy a ticket for a second or third time around. The show's sincere, wholesome characters, squeaky-clean dialogue and marvelously familiar songs make the whole thing totally endearing. There isn't a wiseacre or a cynic in the show, just four nice boys who would make a mother proud and a girlfriend thankful. Forever Plaid has a sweet innocence that makes you laugh with nostalgia about the earnest young nerds who were probably the best guys in your school. On May 25, the newest version of the show opens for a six-week run at the Show Palace Dinner Theatre. It's the second time around at the Show Palace (the first was in April 1999), and it stars the same four singers who played in the original: Steven Flaa, Joe Lawrence, Ken Robinson and Tony Purvis. "We have gotten more requests for (this) show than any other show, even more than for La Cage (aux Folles)," said Flaa, who is also directing the show. "People respond to it in a different way than they do other shows," Flaa said. "They love the story, they love the songs, they love the characters." The plot is simple. Four friends who have dubbed themselves The Plaids -- Frankie (Purvis), Smudge (Lawrence), Sparky (Flaa) and Jinx (Robinson) -- have practiced their harmonies in the basement of Smudge's parents' plumbing supply company basement for years. It was here they became Forever Plaid, a name that suggests the traditional values of family, home and harmony. They've sung at family gatherings, fundraisers and supermarket openings, and they have finally landed their first significant gig at the Airport Hilton Cocktail Bar, The Fusel-Lounge. On the way, their car is broadsided by a busload of Catholic teens on their way to see the Beatles make their U.S. debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, a sign, perhaps, that the era of close harmony and innocent youth is about to pass. The teens are okay, but The Plaids are killed instantly. Then, many years later, through cosmic forces, they are allowed to come back to Earth and perform the big show they missed, never mind that music has moved on to other things. The show is full of '50s songs -- Three Coins in a Fountain, Moments to Remember, No, Not Much, Cry, Catch a Falling Star and Heart and Soul -- all sung in four-part harmony. It's dedicated to the "good guys," the kind of young men "who saved their allowances to give their parents an extra special night on the town for their anniversary, wheeled the projector carts for the Driver Education Films, didn't go beyond first base, and if, by some miracle, they did, they didn't tell anyone." The timing of this particular production has special poignancy for Flaa. "You know, the show has that big section about Perry Como, and now he just recently died," Flaa said. Como is described in the show as The Plaids's ideal person. "We're dedicating the opening night performance to Perry Como since he is such an integral part of Forever Plaid." This is the 10th time that Flaa has appeared as Sparky in Forever Plaid. After the Show Palace version closes, he is going to direct and perform in it still another time at the Jaeb Theatre at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. At a glanceWHAT: Forever Plaid WHERE: Show Palace Dinner Theatre, 16128 U.S. 19, Hudson WHEN: May 25 through July 1. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays; and 1:30 pm. May 26 and June 2, 9 and 28. Doors open two hours before each performance for buffet and cash bar. TICKETS: Dinner and show, $35.95; show only, $24.95. Ages 12 and younger, $19.95 and $14.95. Call 863-7949 in west Pasco; toll free elsewhere is 1-888-655-7469.
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