Because it is not yet defined on Urbandictionary.com and therefore cannot be considered “real” language, it is difficult to explain how the musical “Forever Plaid,” directed by Dennis Yadon at the Bartell Theatre, captures the essence of the phrase “nerd chic.” However, after meeting Frankie, Smudge, Sparky and Jinx, the four lovably goofy amateur singers portrayed in “Forever Plaid,” the meaning of the phrase no longer needs definition. Through its awkward adorability, the musical epitomizes “nerd chic” and is sure to endear.
Music provides the show’s common thread. The plot unfolds through transitional banter between songs. From this nonlinear method, the audience learns the Plaids assembled in high school after a fateful meeting in the audio-visual club. After attending the same musical college, the group learns to harmonize — or as Frankie calls it, “blend, puree, mix and shout.”
“Forever Plaid” is a show within a show. Set on a stage similar to a 1950s dinner club, the musical provides both the first and last opportunity for the Plaids to perform. En route to their first show at a local airport bar, a collision with a bus of Catholic teens kills all four Plaids. The Plaids do not die immediately but are instead transported to a liminal plane of existence by the expanding holes in the ozone layer and the power of harmony. The opportunity to fulfill their dream and perform their long-anticipated debut helps each character come to terms with death. In this state, the concert begins.
Each character brings a medley of idiosyncrasies to the show much as the lovable Steve Urkel would if he were dressed in a plaid cummerbund and instructed to sing. Frankie provides the group with guidance, while Sparky’s attempts to act debonair instead conjure up the image of a na?ve used car salesman. Smudge with his thick, over-sized glasses constantly appears perplexed, and Jinx, the member of the group most affected by stage fright, trembles in anticipation of every solo. The four actors who comprise the Plaids share a brotherly camaraderie during the show, accepting their bandmates’ quirky mannerisms and at the same time legitimizing their own.
Though Jinx is the most understated character and arguably last in the group’s unofficial pecking order, actor Drew Wolfe successfully captivates the audience with his antics. Fidgeting movements and lengthy gazes of utter horror focus the audience on Jinx even if he is not currently the center of attention. The character of Jinx also brings an Abbott-and-Costello-style of slapstick humor to the show with his stream of continual bloody noses and anxiety.
The opposite can be said of actor Jeremy Sonkin who plays Frankie, the unofficial headman of the group. Sonkin struggles to embrace his character’s nerdy exuberance in the beginning of the musical but ends with a moving monologue urging the Plaids to go forward in death while embracing the perfect moments they shared in life.
The group’s coordinated stage movements transport the audience back to the era of doo-wop groups who lean and gesture following the melody. The Plaids employ choreographed moves with heart-warming earnestness. Changing their handgrip on the microphone in time to the music and a four-person scissor kick are among the group’s repertoire. However, the audience quickly learns the Plaids chuckle in the face of conformity, during one number exchanging their microphones for plungers.
The show conveys an impressive range of emotion from the carefree fun of the song “Day-O” to the echoing reminiscences of “Magic Moments” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The strong quality of voices in the production contributes to the success of “Forever Plaid’s” musicality. Wolfe elevates the crescendo of harmonies with his swelling voice, while the smooth bass voice supplied by Dustin Keyes (Smudge) stabilizes each song. Sonkin’s voice seemed more conversational and added little to the already solid talent of the production.
The instrumental quality of music in the production added color to the vibrant voices of the cast. Musician Ben Willis provides the bass while David Sytkowski, who also directed the music for the production, astounds with clear fluidity on the piano, playing with both force and artistry.
Humor is an integral part of the “Forever Plaid” experience. During one song, the actors cajoled the audience to sing along with the threat of hilarity if they didn’t comply. The Plaids have a unique image and sign each song with a “nerd chic” stamp of approval. When they sang, “She Loves You” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, instead of the regular lyrics, the Plaids substituted, “She loves you yeah-sir-eee!” While the humor integrated into songs could be enjoyed by all ages, other humor directly related to the 1950s time period. Without background knowledge this humor could easily be overlooked.
“Forever Plaid” incorporates 1950s nostalgia and embraces the eccentricities of its four group members as they sing their hearts out for the last time. As the show builds in intensity the characters become more confident in their roles and the transitions between dialogue and song flow. With its fabric-fueled excitement, “Forever Plaid” humorously provides the context for the phrase “nerd chic.”
“Forever Plaid” presented by the Madison Theater Guild runs at the Bartell Theatre until Oct. 24.
