"Forever Plaid" deserves venue with more elbow room

It's a shame that "Forever Plaid" has been relegated to Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre, a small, cabaret-type space at the Flamingo Hilton. This fun, feel-good show most certainly deserves to play a "big room."

One assumes that the close quarters -- audience members bump knees and elbows frequently -- and small stage is meant to add to the show's nostalgic story: A quartet of young, clean-cut, white dinner jacket-wearing lounge singers, The Plaids, perishes in a car accident (circa 1964). They return to the present in spirit form to nervously play their dream gig in Las Vegas -- and to the biggest audience they've ever entertained. (The show has previously been staged off-Broadway and in theaters around the country).

Indeed, the house was packed during a 7:30 p.m. performance earlier this week. And the classic tunes and laughter were non-stop.

Subtlety is "Plaid's" secret weapon. The humor (mostly sight gags and goofy cracks) is corny but surprisingly refreshing and genuinely funny -- such as when the leader of the pack, Frankie (played by J. Gregory Davis), reminds the other guys to check their flys before beginning the set. And when Jinx (Ricky Russell), who's prone to nosebleeds, sings backup on an entire tune with a piece of cotton wedged in his nostril before the other guys alert him.

It's Sparky (Daniel Eli Friedman), the group's ham, and the confidence-lacking Smudge (Douglas Frank), though, who steal the show with their antics. As for musical ability, it's a draw: All four are capable crooners whose voices are perfectly suited for the song selections ("Three Coins in the Fountain," "Gotta Be This or That' and "No, Not Much" among them).

Other bits worth noting: The Plaids' high-energy tribute to calypso music (yes, they sing "Day-O"); inviting a show-goer onstage to fill in for the piano player (during his cigarette break) on "Heart and Soul" and their ode to "The Ed Sullivan Show" done in hyperspeed, but still managed to include spinning plates, Senor Wences and a rendition of "Lady of Spain."

If there are any constructive criticisms to be made, it's that the show's finale could use a shot in the arm. Here, the energy level that's maintained throughout the 90-minute production drops too quickly, and the storyline takes an overly bittersweet turn. At least one audience member would have preferred that things end on a happier note: "Don't go!" she called out from the back of the crowd.

Believers in reincarnation can hope that in their next lives, the Plaids will inhabit the larger showroom venue they deserve.

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