Looking for smooth harmonies, nostalgic sounds of ‘50s music and a professional live show close to home? Theatre by the Bay’s production of Forever Plaid is running now at Barrie’s Five Points Theatre downtown. Forever Plaid is a musical revue that follows a group of four young men who sing in a band together. Sparky, Trudge, Jinx and Frankie travel to their debut performance, but the universe has other plans when they are tragically struck by a school bus carrying young fans to see The Beatles’ debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. The guys end up getting a second chance when they seemingly come back from the dead and get to return to the stage and perform for an audience one last time. Filled with smooth harmonies, a live band, uniformity and a dash of humour, Forever Plaid breaks the fourth wall by involving the audience in the show. There are moments when the guys encourage the audience to sing along and even during their cover of “Heart and Soul,” they bring an audience volunteer on stage to help with a piano part. For those who were around in the 1950s, there’s a sequence in the show that acts as almost a mini–Ed Sullivan Show, referencing prominent elements like plate spinners and a sock puppet. The musical soundtrack consists of covers of classics from the 1950s including “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Moments to Remember,” “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing,” and “Heart and Soul.” Fresh off a successful run at the Gravenhurst Opera House earlier this month, it opened in Barrie on the weekend and will play throughout the week offering matinee and evening shows. The final performance is on Saturday. Tickets are $45. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to the Theatre by the Bay website. Theatre by the Bay is a professional, not-for-profit theatre company in Barrie. It recently celebrated its 25th anniversary of offering the community live theatre performances.
