The Citizen, 1995-11-22, Page 27E ntertainment
Plaid to entertain you
The cast of Forever Plaid brought the sounds of the 50s to Blyth Memorial Hall on Nov. 16.
Two more performances of this popular musical have been scheduled to meet the
overwhelming demand. Pictured are members of the original tour cast, in back, from left: P.
Robert Hughes, Jim Soper and John Devorski. Bruce Dow, who is in front, was replaced by
Vince Staltari.
Theatre review
`Forever Plaid, shouldn't
be missed, says reviewer
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You are invited
to the
Fiyirofl Adult Day Centre
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
BAZAAR & TEA
at the
Huron Adult Day Centre
Hwy. 4, South of Clinton
(behind Huronview)
Wednesday, Nov. 29
1 - 3 p.m.
Bake Table, Draws,
Christmas Crafts &
Much More
Shop Early for Christmas
r
By Bonnie Gropp
Let me begin this review by say-
ing that I am not a novice to live
theatre and musical concerts and
with a critic's eye and ear find I am
not always easily pleased.
That said, I want to tell you that
if you have not purchased your
ticket for the Dec. 6 performance of
Forever Plaid in Blyth, do it now
before it's sold out. Having seen the
Nov. 16 show, I have to say that I
can't remember when I enjoyed
something as much. I sat through
the close to two hour show (no
intermission) with a smile on my
face and tears in my eyes. It is
exactly what entertainment should
be, a talented cast, frivolity without
insulting the intelligence of the
audience and good music.
Written, directed and chore-
ographed by Stuart Ross Forever
Plaid , tells the story of a 50's style
quartet and their chance to perform
the concert they never gave before
being killed in an accident with a
bus carrying Catholic girls to a
Beatles concert in 1964.
Interspersed with memorable
tunes, such as Three Coins in the
Fountain, Catch a Falling Star and
even the Beatles' She Loves You,
are glimpses into the past that tell
the story behind the inception of
Forever Plaid.
The four men (Frankie, played by
Jim Soper, Smudge, played by John
Devorski, Jinx, played by P. Robert
Hughes and Sparky, played by
Vince Staltari) met in high school
when they joined the audiovisual
club in 1956. After discovering
their shared love of groups like the
Four Aces, The Four Lads and The
Crew-Cuts they decided to form a
group. Set to perform their first big
concert at the Airport Hilton cock-
tail bar —The Fusel Lounge, they
were on their way to pick up their
plaid tuxedoes when they were
broadsided by the bus.
Through the Power of Harmony
and the Expanding Holes in the
Ozone Layer, in conjunction with
the positions of the planets and all
that "astro-technical stuff' they get
the chance for "the biggest come-
back since Lazarus."
Though the humour and camp are
a great part of the show, the men in
Plaid could keep your attention riv-
eted to them if they played it
straight. Superb voices that wrap
around a chord like a silkworm's
cocoon, they turn each classic they
perform into a moment to remem-
ber.
Devorski is the only cast mem-
ber who was an original of the
Toronto company of Forever Plaid,
for which he won a Dora Mayor
Moore award for best performance
by a male in a msucial with the
other Plaids.
Soper, who was an understudy
with the Toronto company, has
enjoyed a varied career over the
past 10 years, which has taken him
to theatres across Ontario.
Hughes, who made his theatrical
debut at the age of nine as Thorin
in a musical production of The
Hobbit, most recently appeared as
Dorian Gray in Dorian: A Rock
Musical for the Atlantic Fringe
Festival and the newly released
original cast recording.
Staltari, a recent graduate from
the Sheridan college music theatre
program ismaking his professional
debut with Forever Plaid.
Also on stage is pianist Christo-
pher Mounteer and bass player Jack
McFadden.
Forever Plaid has proven itself
with Toronto audiences and now
throughout the province. It's a
must-see for anyone who, like
Frankie, knows the thrill of "being
inside a nice tight chord", who
remembers when music had
melody and when life was more
light-hearted.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1995. PAGE 27.
For all your local news
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BAZAAR CRAFT
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HOBBY SHOW
PENNY SALE
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Children under 12 Free
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