How could four squares be so cool?
That is the question after watching “Forever Plaid,” Monday night before a sold out crowd at Savannah Center. Another sell out performance of the show — produced by KC Productions — was expected Tuesday afternoon.
Bill Davis (Smudge), Marty Butler (Frankie), Bob Stehman (Sparky) and Woody Wood (Jinx) combined for majestic harmony, cute comedy and some poignant reflections on life, death and dreams.
The strange and sometimes flimsy plot goes something like this: The Four Plaids were on their way to a concert in 1964, when a bus filled with teenage girls on their way to a Beatles concert plowed into the car.
The boys were killed and went to musical heaven.
Then, miraculously, they come back for the concert they never gave.
It’s a second chance to sing and live.
“One perfect moment – that’s all anybody has a right to expect,” says Frankie.
In a new world populated by rock and roll, the Plaids harked back to such golden quartet such as The Four Aces and the Four Lads.
And so the Plaids get to live their dream in 1950s’ harmony and pop style.
It starts with the opening number, “Three Coins in the Fountain,” a classic pre-rock and roll ‘50s’ number that was also the theme to a movie by the same name.
The movie, like the song was sweet, innocent and romantic – just like the ideal ‘50s’ life.
Many of the other songs set the same mood: “Moments to Remember,” “No Not Much,” “Catch A Falling Star,” and “Shangri-La.”
Davis, Butler, Stehman and Wood have been rehearsing for months and the hard work paid off.
“We’ve been working so long, it was great tonight to do this in front of a live audience,” said Davis, who directed the show, with help from his wife, Sue, assistant director.
“To hear those people applaud, to hear them laugh, it was special,” Bill Davis said.
One audience member got to be part of the show.
During one song, “Heart and Soul,” Davis went out in the crowd and asked for a volunteer to go on stage on play the piano.
Jo Gagne answered the call.
“I can’t believe it, I never expected to be on stage tonight,” Gagne said after the show. “I just went up there and played the piano and did some dancing.”
The Plaids took turns waltzing around the stage with Gagne. When it was over, the group presented her with a certificate and also, for good measure, some dental floss.
A highlight came early on when the Plaids actually covered the Beatles, “She Loves You.” They turned the mop-top rocker into marshmallow harmony. And it worked.
The Plaids hit their stride towards the end of the show. A highlight was a breathless, short take on the old “Ed Sullivan Show.” It featured everything from juggling, dancing, puppets and accordion songs.
The closing numbers were powerful: “Shangri-La,” “Rags to Riches” and “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”
The cast included musical director Jo Ann Hanebrink on piano; Bob Wilson, keyboards, Dennis St. Germain, percussion and Don Hainlen on bass.
But it was the songs and harmony that made this show work.
“Four-part harmony never gets old,” said Villages George Dallas. “In fact, the older I get, the better it sounds.”
