Photo Source: Racheal McCaig
What would you do if you could realize your dreams a few decades after you die? For the Plaids, this is not a ridiculous notion—it’s reality. Most fans of the fictitious 1950s male quartet think they died in an emergency room, but patrons in Toronto can experience their music live at the Panasonic Theatre until June 12!
At the beginning of the show, the group explains that they want to seize the opportunity to perform the show they never could when they were alive. This enables the show’s escapist quality, as the oldies music and out-dated costumes make the audience feel like they’re travelling through time with the performers.
Photo Source: Racheal McCaig
The Programme states that the show is dedicated to the “good guys” and the characters make it clear why early on. The Plaids met in the A/V club in high school, which they nicknamed the Projector Sector. They aren’t outright nerdy, but rather charming gentlemen with nervous tendencies. One has frequent nosebleeds and another has a fear of public speaking. However, it is evident that they are inexperienced in the dating department because they announced that their love songs were inspired by fantasies about their attractive Spanish teacher.
I enjoyed listening to their rhyming lyrics and watching them play with unique props like plungers, which they used in one song instead of microphones. Forever Plaid is filled with funny moments. For example, at one point Frankie (Jonathan Cullen) catches Sparky (Scott Beaudin) writing their own lyrics on his hand and then he tries to deny it. Oh and the Plaid’s suggestion that they play a show at IHOP next made me laugh too.
Forever Plaid has a small cast, but there’s big attention to detail. The simple choreography makes it easier for them to remain in sync, including when they fold napkins in unison to the beat of a song.
Of course, I’m also partial to all things red, so I liked the song they sang on the Ed Sullivan Show stage to promote a red Ford Mercury car.
The cast takes advantage of the Panasonic Theatre’s intimate setting by orchestrating an interactive sing along, which includes parts for dainty-sounding women and macho-sounding men. After polling the audience to see who knew the song Heart and Soul, they invited an unsuspecting woman sitting near the front to go on stage and play a few notes. Her musical talent and eagerness to participate didn’t go unnoticed, as she was sent home with an official certificate of achievement and the Plaids deemed her an honorary member of the band.
My seats at the front of my section on the orchestra level were so good; I always had ample lighting to write between the lines in my notebook, which is rare. No matter where you sit or who’s your favourite boy band, I think you’ll appreciate how the show is like a Throwback Thursday music video that doesn’t stop until there’s a satisfying ending.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ81g3ftWlU’]