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Pleased As Punch To See 'Forever Plaid'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 10, 2008

Updated: 07/14/2008 03:11 pm

TAMPA - What Parrotheads are to Jimmy Buffett, Plaidheads are to The Plaids - the fictional guy group from the off-Broadway hit "Forever Plaid."

The groupie phenomenon exists throughout the country, with devoted fans scrambling to see as many productions as possible. Today through Aug. 17 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Plaidheads will have yet another chance to satisfy their craving for the '60s-style musical comedy.

"Forever Plaid" holds the distinction of being the longest-running musical in Florida. In 1993, TBPAC became the first regional theater outside of New York to get the show. It was also the first production in the center's history.

"When it came to TBPAC in October 1993, it ran for seven months straight. Ever since then, it has had such a wonderful appeal because it's a very unique musical," said director Rick Criswell.

Written by Stuart Ross in 1990, the show is about a young singing group (The Plaids) jockeying for a top spot in the music industry. While traveling to their first big gig in 1964, they crash into a bus full of parochial girls, killing all four musicians.

Flash forward 30 or 40 years - when the planets and stars have aligned just right - the guys return to earth for one last chance to perform. The fact that Sparky, Frankie, Jinx and Smudge are ghosts does not stop them from bopping out classic hits such as "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Catch a Falling Star," "Shangri-La" and "Mathilda."

"I don't know what the mass groupie appeal is other than the music and the innocence of the time," Criswell said, but "for 90 minutes, you will be totally entertained. You'll laugh and be touched."

Kathy L. Greenberg

CATCH A SHOW

Forever Plaid

WHEN: Today through Aug. 17; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Jaeb Theater, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa; (813) 229-7827

COST: $31.50

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