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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 24, 2005 'Plaid' is melodic return to '60s sound Four beloved friends: Jinx, Sparky, Frankie and Smudge - the characters who make up the fictional group called Forever Plaid in a show with the same name, by Stuart Ross, with musical arrangements by James Raitt - are back on familiar turf. The group opened last weekend at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, First and Hargadine in Ashland. The show plays at 8 p.m. Thursday through Monday as well as 1 p.m. brunch matinees Sunday through June 5. OCT originally presented "Forever Plaid" in 1995. With its mixture of sweetness, nostalgia and great vocal harmonies it was one of the theatre's most popular offerings. "Forever Plaid" is directed and choreographed by Kevin Hill, a Massachusetts native making his Oregon Cabaret Theatre debut. Hill has extensive directing and choreographing credits all over the country including the Fulton Opera House in Pennsylvania, Sierra Rep in Sonoma and Seacoast Rep in New Hampshire. "He is the only director I've hired sight unseen," said OCT artistic director Jim Giancarlo. "And it worked." Giancarlo saw a video tape of about 10 numbers Hill had directed. As choreographer for the show, Hill took on responsibilities usually handled by Giancarlo. Both Hill and Giancarlo come from visual arts and dance backgrounds. Hill did national tours in "Chorus Line." "I love his work," Giancarlo said. "(In the video) I could see his instincts as a director and I could identify where it was coming from." The mythical group Forever Plaid is an all-male, close-harmony, pop quartet in the tradition of the Four Preps, the Hi-Los, the Four Freshman, the Crew Cuts and the Four Lads. The music they sing might be called "good guy pop": "Three Coins in a Fountain," "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," "Sixteen Tons," "Cry," "Chain Gang," "Catch A Falling Star," "Shangri-La," "Moments To Remember." The music is rich with harmony and squeaky clean. It is the music of a simpler time, pre-dating the Beatles and the wilder explorations of later 1960's rock 'n roll. "The characters in the show grew up listening to that sound," Hill said. They loved to sing and started singing together." Jinx, Smudge, Frankie and Sparky spent many an hour in Smudge's basement perfecting their smooth four-part harmonies. They were sure that their career as a '60's guy group was just getting started when they landed their first major gig. On the way to the concert, they were killed in a car crash. The people in the other car were on their way to see the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. Due to expanding holes in the ozone layer, the Plaids are able to come back for one night only to perform the show they never got to do in life. Time has stopped for them and they sing the same songs, in the same style as they did when they were alive 40 years ago. In recounting the details of the story, Giancarlo pointed out that the show is more than just a revue. "You get to know them as characters and relationships," Giancarlo said. "They're four geeky guys, each with a different medical ailment from asthma and a speech impediment to a bloody nose." OCT resident Darcy Danielson is musical director and pianist. She is joined by Kevin McKern on acoustic bass. Danielson describes the singing as mostly in the high baritone and low tenor range, with high highs and low lows. "The two middle voices have very difficult singing parts," Danielson explained. "They're sing parts that make absolutely no sense when sung by themselves." Hill agreed that the harmonies are very tight, and difficult. "Jim did a good job of picking four guys who sound good together and who have never sung together in a quartet," Hill said. And they have to play instruments they've never played before and two of the actors had to learn to be fire-eaters. Jinx is played by Tommy Schoffler, Sparky by Marc Swan, Frankie by James Drake and Smudge by Chad Jennings. Marc Swan has previously appeared at OCT as Awesome in both productions of "Snow White & Several Dweebs" and in "Pageant" where he played Miss Deep South. "I love the tight harmonies," Swan said. "I listened to this music when I was younger." Schoffler has performed at PCPA Theatrefest, The Warehouse Theatre and Theatre West Virginia. Schoffler�s voice is close to counter tenor. "I like the glory days of Barbershop, and the all male voices," he said. Growing up, Schoffler listened to the Oak Ridge Boys, country and gospel music. Drake and Jennings come to Ashland from Seattle. Both have appeared at the Fifth Avenue Theatre and the Village Theatre among others. "Singing these songs, I've gained an appreciation for how difficult it is," Drake said. "The notes are very close together." Jennings described the music as having "a really great sound. A sincere sound. It's great to see people come to the show who grew up with this music." Set and lighting design are by Craig Hudson, costume design by Kerri Lea Robbins, sound design by Frank Sullivan and props by Roxanna Clover. Resident stage manager is Kathleen Mahoney. Assistant lighting designer is Michael Stanfill. Tickets are $21 for Sunday matinees; $21 and $23 for Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and $25 and $27 for Friday and Saturday evenings. Tickets can be purchased at the box office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. except Tuesdays (closed) and Sundays (open at 4 p.m.) or by calling 488-2902. It is also possible to download an order form from www.oregoncabaret.com which can then be faxed to 488-8795). Gourmet dinners and brunch available with advance reservations. Appetizers, beverages and desserts also available - no reservations needed. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange Online Casinos Community Fasa Student Loans Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams