By Amanda Berg
Do you ever have a craving to listen to music from the 1950s? Have you ever just longed for some barbershop quartet music—the sweet sounds of four beautifully blended male voices enchanting you? If so, head over to On Pitch Performing Arts in Layton, and have that wish come true—live.
Forever Plaid is a four-man show, and the story, which takes place in the 1960s, of a barbershop quartet who was just about to make their big break when they are killed in a car accident; however, they come back to earth and give you the performance of a lifetime, pun intended. Keep in mind, they haven’t performed in over fifty years and are a bit rusty, but they find their stride over time. The songs they sing are actual songs from the 1950s and 1960s, but even as a huge doo-wop fan, I did not know most of them. Hearing new songs is exciting to me, especially in a genre I love so much. I especially enjoyed two songs, “No Not Much,” which is by far one of the funniest songs I have ever heard, and “Caribbean Plaid,” because the amount of audience participation. The performers, Jaxton Alvord, Joel Badger, Dan Tate, and Daniel Peet all bring uniqueness and fun to their performances, and each has their own quirks, which come out in their solo pieces. Alvord has a beautiful falsetto voice, whereas Badger is a smooth bass. Baritones Tate and Peet are the necessary middle voices that maintain balance and harmonic depth. Together, they create the iconic barbershop quartet sound. I appreciate how you can tell when these men perform, they are really having fun, and it’s not just an “act.”
Director Alex Young, Prop Designer April Daw, Set Designer Brandon Stauffer, and Lighting Designer Brayden Weidmen bring the show to life with exciting effects such as fog and strobe lights, and a stage that truly felt like we were transported to 1964, watching Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The props and sets are simplistic, but realistic (like the Ed Sullivan Show sign), and exactly enough to be Rocky Mountain Barber Company and Costume Designer Amanda Larsen make the men look spiffy and authentic. My husband and I both noticed how homey and clean the theater is, which makes the performance an even more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
If you enjoy music of the 1950s and 1960s, and want to experience a fun, family friendly, interactive emotional rollercoaster, drive up to On Pitch Performing Arts in Layton anytime from now until November 3rd (minus October 28, 30-31) and see Forever Plaid. If you can’t find the theater, drive behind the building you think it’s in. It’s there, but a bit hidden, in the back between Home Depot and the Chevrolet dealership. Enjoy.
On Pitch Performing Arts presents Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross
On Pitch Performing Arts, 578 N Main Street, Layton, UT 84041
October 25-November 3, 2018 7:30 PM, November 3, 2018 2:00 PM (minus October 28, 30-31)
Contact: 385-209-1557
Tickets: $12-15
Forever Plaid Facebook Event
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