37
THEATER
▼
Face the musicals
Forever Plaid, shows its stripes;
Rocky Horror shows its legs
Forever Plaid
day through Aug. 20 at Sylvia’s Restaurant &
Class Act Dinner Theatre, 5115 N.E. Sandy
Blvd. For information and reservations, call
503-288-6828 or visit www.sylvias.net.
—Timothy Krause
his show’s not called Forever Plaid for noth
ing. Like its characters, this comhall con
traption is revived over and over again,
most recently at Sylvia’s Class Act Dinner
Theatre. And there’s a reason: It’s simple, fool
The Rocky Horror Show
proof fun.
A 1950s quartet of young lads—killed in a
he prospect of experiencing The Rocky Hor
car crash on the way to their first big break—
ror Show for the first time seemed terrifying.
miraculously returns from the hereafter to
For years I’d heard stories about “virgins”
endearingly bumble their way through the
being pulled out of the audience and brought
dream concert they never got the chance to
onstage for some sort of ritualistic humiliation.
perform in life. As you might expect, the plot
Thank gcxxJness Triangle Productions is
is tangential to
presenting a kinder, gen
the music, itself a
tler Horror Show, the
wiped-clean trib
1973 stage musical that
ute to our mid
inspired the 1975 cult hit
century adoles
film The Rocky Horror
cence when
Picture Show, which 30
everyone seem
years later still draws
y *
y* /
ingly got along, or
crowds of prop-clutching
at least sang, in
freaks to Clinton Street
perfect harmony.
Theater at midnight
As such, it
every Saturday. Unlike
hums along with
the celluloid version,
its own bit of spir
there’s no need to bring
ited sentiment,
toast, and producer Don
from “Catch a
Hom is begging audience
Falling Star” and
members to leave their
“Love Is a Many
hot dogs and rice at
Splendored
home. Squirt guns, how
Thing” to “Per-
ever, are welcome, and
fidia” and oh-
confetti is provided by
won’t-they-ban-
the house along with a
it-outright “Heart
program that doubles as a
and Soul.” Some The plot is tangential to the music in Forever Plaid. newspaper to cover your
where in the mid
head during the thun
dle, the boys render a
derstorm scene.
nearly masculine
The simple story
interpolation of
involves a newly
“Chain Gang” linked
engaged couple, Janet
with the heavy bass of
(Jami Chatalas Blan
“Sixteen Tons.” And,
chard) and Brad
yes, the squeaky-clean
(Kelsey Tyler), stuck
goof-nuts pull out all
in the middle of
the stops for the
nowhere with a flat
requisite plunger-pop-
tire, until they stum
pin’ of “Crazy ’Bout
ble upon a remote
castle inhabited by
Ya Baby” and the
“sweet transvestite”
revue’s seemingly sig
Frank-n-Furter. Wade
nature song that
McCollum (Hedwig
always feels plaid,
and the Angry Inch)
“Three Coins in the
makes a grand
Fountain.”
entrance
as the mad
As Jinx, Ammon
scientist and proceeds
Morris (Sordid Lives,
to steal the show with
Pageant, Debbie Does
his hearty lungs and
Dallas) brings a break
twisted contortion.
out voice. Brian
Wade McCollum steals The Rocky Horror Show.
Hom, who normal
“Sparky" Bartley
ly stays behind the
(Monky Business) has
scenes, makes a rare onstage appearance as the
musical comedy written all over him. Like
their characters, fellow crooners Jason Ogan
Narrator. Although it’s great to see him poking
fun at himself (particularly his overtanned
(Frankie) and SunSHINE (Smudge) hint at
untapped potential, and all four, in their
hide), his lines are more distracting than help
ful. But at least he’s going (Hit with a bang, as
checkered-dinner-jacket way, keep the blue
this is Triangle’s final production after 15 years.
hair laughin’ and feet a-tappin’.
Shows have been selling out consistently, so
But that’s about as close to heaven as we
make your reservations now.
get, because even when director Edward James’
The Rocky Horror Show has been extended
production hits all the right notes, it doesn’t
through Aug. 20 at Theater Theatre, 3430
really find its voice. And therein lies the
double-edged sword of the foolproof musical: It
S.E. Belmont St. Tickets are $35 at the door
may be hard to mess up, but it’s doubly hard to
and $30 in advance from 503-239-5919 or
make it your own.
TicketsWest.
—Jim Radosta JH
Forever Plaid continues Thursday to Satur-
T
T
i J