By Jessica Dionne for Curtains Up (@maccajess)
On February 9th, 1964 The Beatles landed in America and changed the face of music forever. Aspiring singers and musicians everywhere were given renewed hope that they too could achieve fame. Forever Plaid tells the story of four guys, whose shared love of music and dream of making it big is cut short when all four perish in a car accident. Miraculously given one last chance to perform together, the Plaids must give it all they’ve got for one last time.
Playing in Montreal for the first time in 10 years, this Off-Broadway hit features an exceptional all-Montreal cast whose voices will blow your socks off. The musical direction and choreography are impeccable, and the live musicians who accompany the cast are as vital and entertaining as the rest of the cast.
Taken from 1964 and launched into the present day, the characters often break the fourth wall – interacting with the audience and adding to the illusion that we are not merely watching a play but rather experiencing the Plaid’s rise to fame alongside them.
Entirely musically driven, there is very little storytelling involved, and other than a few glimpses into each of the Plaid members’ lives, I was left wanting to know more about them as individuals and how they came to be. That being said, there is no doubt that Forever Plaid is fun, entertaining, and will make you tap your foot to the beat.
For many of the people in the audience, most of who were considerably older than me, the show was a source of comfort; I only had to look to my right where the elderly man reached out for his wife’s hand during ‘Crazy ‘Bout Ya Baby’ to see that to them, the songs held a special place in their hearts.
Forever Plaid runs until February 22nd at the Segal Centre. For tickets call 514-739-7944 or visit segalcentre.org.
