Forever Plaid is an Off Broadway musical from the 90s about a harmony group from the 50s (Think the Four Freshman, Four Aces, Four Lads...) killed in a bus crash before making their big break. Now, they have the chance to come back from the dead and do the show that they couldn't do while they were alive. The musical was written by Stuart Ross, with music direction by James Raitt, and it starred David Engel as Smudge, Guy Stroman as Frankie, Stan Chandler as Jinx, and Jason Graae as Sparky in their original cast, with Larry Raben replacing Jason Graae in the original company.
[Forever Plaid] contains examples of:
- The '50s: The era that the Plaids lived in for most of their lives, and what the script is trying to emulate.
- Abusive Parents: Jinx and Sparky are implied to have them. Jinx is even implied to have chronic nosebleeds because his parents beat him in the script.
- All There in the Manual: Stuart Ross' director's notes in the script of Forever Plaid.
- Ambiguously Bi: Both Sparky and Jinx can fit in this.
- Jinx loves Johnnie Ray, who was bisexual and often wrote about his lonliness regarding his sexuality, although he couldn't be open about it in the 50s. Jinx also says that he always wanted to tell somebody that he loved them, not mentioning men or women.
- As for Sparky, he does talk about a high school Spanish teacher that he had a crush on, but he seemed to really be into Perry Como to the point where he'd break his car so he can thank him for everything he's done for them". He makes a point of mentioning how kind he is and, in the Japanese production, even mentions how much he likes Como's hair. Sparky also has plenty of moments in Plaid Tidings, such as his reluctance to get out of the mistletoe and calling Smudge "a regular Rock Hudson"
- An Aesop: Life isn't about the fame you get. It's about the dreams you've had, and your moments to remember.
- Attention Deficit... Ooh, Shiny!!: Sparky. He forgets his words and sometimes gets to energized during a certain number.
- Back from the Dead: The four plaids have died, but they came back to do the show that they were deprived of.
- Bittersweet Ending: The Plaids finish their concert, and now have to ascend to the heavens up above.
- Black Comedy: Mostly stemming from the fact that they're dead.Smudge: Maybe, if we don't finish the show, we can pick up where we left off.Sparky: In the emergency room?
- Blind Without 'Em: Smudge in Plaid Tidings, when he takes off his glasses.
- Bromantic Comedy: The musical, while also a nod to the 50s, is really just about these four friends who love to perform.
- Call-and-Response Song: Matilda.
- Call-Back: During his patter scene, Smudge talks about his old records, and he dreamt of creating a record with the Plaids, and he mentions wanting a golden record. Later, during his solo "Rags to Riches", it's revealed that the other boys had this dream too, and they show off their hypothetical golden records, as Smudge sings "Must I forever stay a begger whose golden dreams may not come true.
- Cool Car:
- The Plaids loved their 54' Mercury convertible. They don't even mind that they died in it!
- During the Perry Como segment, Sparky emphasizes his really cool car that he destroyed so he can meet Perry Como.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Jinx is implied to have one in the director's notes.
- Dysfunctional Family: Sparky and Jinx's family. Watching the Ed Sullivan show is the one thing that they have.
- Embarrassing First Name: Francis would just rather be called Frankie.
- Embarrassing Hobby: Well, not really a hobby. Sparky is just embarrassed about having to go to speech therapy.
- The End... Or Is It?: Technically, they should be done with Earth, and finally rest in peace. However, the boys do come back during Plaid Tidings to perform a Christmas show.
- Flashback: Some characters have flashbacks to the times where they were alive. For instance, Smudge has a flashback to his record collection, Sparky and Jinx have flashbacks to the times where they were watching the Ed Sullivan show, Sparky had a flashback to where he met Perry Como and, in Plaid Tidings, Frankie has flashbacks regarding how he feels about certain Christmas songs.
- Four-Man Band: Doesn't fit perfectly into the mold. Frankie is the only sane one Although he goes off the rails during the Christmas sequel, Plaid Tidings, Smudge is the smart guy, Sparky is the cassanova wannabe, and Jinx is the butt-monkey.
- Four-Philosophy Ensemble: Frankie is the optimist, Smudge is the cynic, Jinx is the realist, and Sparky is the apathetic.
- "Gaining Confidence" Song: Cry for Jinx, and Rags to Riches for Smudge.
- The Glasses Come Off: Smudge unintentionally flings his glasses off and sings the lead for Rags To Riches by Tony Bennett.
- Have a Gay Old Time: During Heart and Soul, Frankie asks the audience who likes to be on top (the higher piano part). In Sixteen Tons, Smudge says "We work hard to sing about men who love. But we also love to sing about men who work. Hard."
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Jinx is the shyest member of the group, whom all of the boys love and are protective of. The orignal Jinx, Stan Chandler, is blonde.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: Sparky. We get to see it during the Perry Como segment, as well as the way that he treats Jinx.
- "I Am" Song: Sixteen Tons.
- Large Ham: Sparky wants to be this in the beginning. However, Frankie's big speech is the hammiest in the end.
- Malicious Misnaming: "Frankie." "His real name is Francis."
- Meaningful Name: In the script, it is confirmed that Smudge's name comes from always making a "smudge" on the paper whenever he writes. Sparky's name, as seen in the show, is also very accurate.
- Nerd Glasses: Smudge
- Nerdy Inhaler: Averted with Frankie, who is not really a nerd, at least no more than any of the other guys.
- No Fourth Wall: In fact, they even grab an audience member to play the top part of the piano with Sparky.
- Product Placement: The Mercury section, right before they do the entire Ed Sullivan show in 3 minutes and 11 seconds.
- Psychic Nosebleed: Jinx gets chronic nosebleeds. In the script, Roger Bean writes that this is because he's been abused all of his life.
- Rags to Riches: In the most literal way possible. Smudge takes off his glasses and immediately begins to sing Rags To Riches by Tony Bennett.
- Reference Overdosed: The Ed Sullivan number. As Jinx sings lead in Lady of Spain, the other three guys prance around, miming iconic acts from the Ed Sullivan show.
- Screw Destiny: They all know that they have to, but none of them want to go back to Heavan.
- Show Stopper: Cry, as sung by Jinx.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Sparky and Jinx, although they're technically stepsiblings.
- Small Start, Big Finish: Cry. Jinx really gains confidence throughout the song and starts to belt it out as if he's always had this confidence.
- Spoken Word in Music: "The drive-in movies/Where we'd go/And somehow never/Watch the show"
- Written-In Absence: "You'll have to excuse our pianist. He's on his Union break."
