Forever Plaid

Published Friday 6 June 2008 at 17:05 by Paul Vale

In 1964, a car carrying the band Forever Plaid to its first gig crashes headlong into a school bus. Carried to heaven before their first gig, the boys are given a second chance and return to give us a taste of what they had to offer. Stuart Ross’s affectionate take on boy bands of the late fifties plays remarkably well mixing a selection of nostalgia hits sung, typically in four-part harmony with humour, a little drama and great deal of fun. The characters of Forever Plaid have a humility that is woefully lacking in the karaoke musicals in the West End at present and it is this trait that adds to the show’s success.

Graham Weaver as Smudge gives a slick performance as the group’s unofficial leader while Joe Allen is chirpy, comic and makes a wonderful clown as Sparky. Steven Craven as Jinx adds occasional gravitas, while Anthony Williamson makes the perfect geek. All four have superbly charismatic voices that lend themselves perfectly to the harmonies involved, with particular highlights being the curious Perfidia, Chain Gang, Sixteen Tons and Lady of Spain. Each rendition is treated with respect and more than a dash of humour, much of which comes from superb choreography from Racky Plews some smart direction from John Plews as director. There are some surprises in the staging, such as a thoroughly emotive star cloth and a hydraulic lift, but these enhance the action rather than dress it up.

Director Plews has chosen the perfect show to revisit during the Gatehouse’s tenth anniversary and fans of Jersey Boys through to Never Forget should check it out as the superlative boy band musical.