EDINBURGH 2016 - Review: FOREVER PLAID, theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 10 August

Four young singers in an American close harmony group - the eponymous Plaids - were killed in a car accident just as their careers were taking off, and as their style of music was about to give way to the British Invasion of the Beatles. The quartet are given the chance to return to Earth for one night only to give the concert they never got a chance to perform. This is the idea behind Forever Plaid, a musical revue that premiered Off-Broadway in the late Eighties, and which now comes to Edinburgh.

A compact musical, running at an hour and requiring little more than four stools, four music stands and an assortment of small props, it's the perfect choice for a Fringe performance. Light on plot, the show is more about the concept and the delightful music, including classics such as "Three Coins In The Fountain" and "Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing". Between the music, we get to know each member of the Plaids and watch as they come to terms with their place in the afterlife. The overall impression is of a less cynical, more saccharine Jersey Boys.

Forever Plaid is a big ask from its performers - the four Plaids are onstage effectively for the entire show, singing in close harmony - but this cast are fully up to the task, The harmonies are on point throughout, and each number is accompanied by well-executed choreography, wholly appropriate to the era and style - a number with plungers standing in for microphone stands was something of a showstopper!

Between the numbers, the banter between the Plaids and with the audience introduce us to four sweetly defined characters. At times, the dialogue sections could have done with more variety of pace, but overall, the performances were very well observed. Jinx was a particular delight among the band members - a nasally worrier, who could bust out some real vocal chops once he got over his fear-induced nosebleed.

Overall, it's a simple but pleasant hour of entertainment. While all within the same style, the music is varied enough to remain interesting and the performances are all engaging. A little gem of musical theatre in a frantic Fringe, this production deserved a better audience than a room of teenagers (and the not so young!) rudely glued to their phones. For musical theatre fans, or anyone who would enjoy a rather heavenly start to their Fringe day, Forever Plaid will get your toes tapping and put a smile on your face.

Forever Plaid is running at theSpace @ Symposium Hall until August 13 at 12:45 each day.

Photo credit: @theSpaceUK

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