Plaid Tidings
The York Theatre Company presents this musical revue by the creators of 'Forever Plaid', featuring 1950s boy band The Heavenly Plaids as they sing seasonal holiday music.
... Read moreFor the first time in New York, a 1950s doo-wop boy band called The Plaids put on a posthumous performance to bring harmony to our troubled world. They bring back holiday classics with a Forever Plaid twist— such as “Jingle Bells,” “’Twuz The Night B4…,” and “The Dreidel Song” while filling the night with comedy. Sprinkled among their holiday offerings are audience favorites like their riotous three-minute version of “The Ed Sullivan Show”—this time featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks, the Vienna Boys Choir, and a Plaid Caribbean Christmas.
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- 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Already closed
- York Theatre at St Peter's Church (Midtown E)
Cast & Creatives (6)
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Reviews (29)
16 Critics' Reviews
"I hadn’t seen the 'Forever Plaid' guys in decades, and I’d completely forgotten they were dead. But all was made clear by the narrator of 'Plaid Tidings,' the group’s sweetly enjoyable holiday show...The finest moment belongs to Perry Como, who appears on a black-and-white console TV as the Plaids sing backup...It all seems completely organic, to the credit of Stuart Ross, who wrote, directed and did the musical staging." Full Review
"As comedy, 'Plaid Tidings' is extremely hit-or-miss. There are lame jokes about Imodium, nosebleeds, asthma, and a trip to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania...The entire what-are-we-doing-here premise is strained, and not just because it is reprised from the original show. We know what their true purpose is: They are meant to sing, and during certain dull stretches, you may find yourself wishing they would just get on with it." Full Review
"Against all expectations, it's a sweet, silly enjoyable evening of popular songs, enlivened by some good jokes (and some bad jokes) and blessed with a cast that elevates the modest material nicely. 'Plaid Tidings' proves to be glad tidings for anyone wanting comfort food in their theater outing this holiday season." Full Review
"The slightly overstuffed two-hour show is packed with tasty bonbons in the form of expertly performed songs and clever musical staging...The comic shtick is hit or miss, though, and the corn is as high as an elephant's eye...With the same music playing in every store and elevator these days, the music holds few surprises; nonetheless, it’s well enough done that it really doesn’t matter." Full Review
"The holiday sequel of 'Plaid Tidings' is equally pleasing though not without problems...Next earthly visit more singing please, and less silliness...The event is pleasurable and the opportunity to listen to fours voices blend in scintillating harmony does indeed give one hope for a brighter future." Full Review
"The humorous banter among the four and their slide-splitting re-creation of the Ed Sullivan show are reason enough to see 'Plaid Tidings.' Add in their four-part close harmony renditions of more than thirty songs and you’ve got a perfect holiday frolic…Although it helps to be familiar with the style the Plaids are lampooning, the show can be appreciated as a gentle, happy, comic musical caper with nothing on its mind but pleasing the audience." Full Review
"The holiday version is delivering just as many smiles as the original. The storyline for both versions is as thin as a paper cupcake liner…'Plaid Tidings' doesn’t purport to change the world with any deep themes or topics. It’s mostly a variety show, but a heartfelt one at that. With the original creator, Ross at the helm this quartet will leave you with a warmth and sweetness that comforts like fresh-baked Christmas cookies." Full Review
"For anyone who likes to laugh – a lot – and who’s seeking a respite from the stresses and strains of the daily grind, 'Plaid Tidings' is for you...The show, two acts with intermission, probably would benefit from running straight through without interruption – the pace is fast and there’s a steady buildup to the payoff: a priceless homage to an era gone by." Full Review
"The one improvement that could be made to the show is the pacing of the first act. It takes what seems like most of Act I for the guys to realize what their mission is, and while the cascade of old-time tunes is entertaining, the show really finds its momentum once it settles into it’s holiday groove. All in all, 'Plaid Tidings' is a solid win for good, clean and wholesome holiday fun." Full Review
for a previous production "The Christmas show plot’s a little goofy and the result a bit disjointed...The note-dropping shtick quickly becomes tedious, but all is forgiven when they start to sing in that fab ’50s close-harmony style...The Plaids have been packing them in for nearly two decades now and have inspired legions of Plaid Heads, fans who see each show multiple times, sometimes even following them from one gig to another." Full Review
for a previous production "The foursome are granted permission to return to earth for one final show. 'Plaid Tidings' allows them an encore performance. Once you get past that rather morbid setup, 'Plaid Tidings' proves a nostalgic, funny, tuneful two hours of Christmas cheer...Ross’s script can get a little corny (or a lot), as when one of the boys reveals his tip for staying young in the afterlife, but as long as Forever Plaid are singing, it’s first-rate holiday entertainment." Full Review
for a previous production "For those who have never seen the first musical, this may all be fresh and new. For those who have seen the original, it is a tad disappointing. The show really begins after intermission when 'The Plaids' return to perform... Would that the whole show were this creative. Never fear, however, as these four Plaids sing with the greatest of ease and blend." Full Review
for a previous production "The Globe's 'Plaid Tidings' cast is very good, and most have done 'Plaid' shows so many times they could do the moves and music in their sleep, but that's one of my quibbles with the show...Ross has written a joke into the 'Plaid Tidings' script that implies that people continue aging after death, but the boyish goofiness still seems a bit off for the maturity of the quartet onstage...The foursome are all excellent singers and good actors." Full Review
for a previous production “'Plaid Tidings' isn’t so much a sequel as a rehash...The comedy content is mostly enjoyable but bland; it can get wearying if you’re familiar with Ross’ franchise...Two hours with Ross’ lovable losers is more than enough, perhaps inspiring cynicism as much as instilling holiday cheer. That’s the flip side of creating a show that banks on audiences’ need for and response to nostalgia for the innocence of a bygone time." Full Review
for a previous production "We’re still safe with these dear, funny men, all of whom are inept on purpose still upset the 'harmonal' balance of the world, especially now that we are held hostage by awful holiday recordings...Ross adds an extremely funny cell phone gag, with the guys running all over trying to discover the source of the (to us) familiar ring tone, then not knowing what a cell phone is...Departing audience members remarked to one another how much fun they’d had." Full Review
for a previous production "'The Plaid' revues' saving grace is their ability to laugh at the very culture that they are celebrating, to make light of its syrupy sentiments and vanilla veneer...But even as the shows acknowledge the datedness of this pop-culture fluff, they're able to root out from under its candy-coating and hokey pose of innocence something in the music that still catches our ear." Full Review
13 Members' Reviews
See it if you don't mind mindless entertainment. Premise is an excuse for lots of singing by talented cast. This sh be an annual holiday tradition.
Don't see it if you want a real show. FP is a lively, silly romp. I had a great time.
Also I'm catching up on old reviews. In this case, a review of a revue.
See it if The singing was good, but the writing was embarrassingly corny, and the skits and banter were dated and unfunny. I left at intermission.
Don't see it if You expect a sharp, contemporary show or don't like music from the 50's and early 60's.
See it if You like the original, you like Christmas music.
Don't see it if You like serious theater
See it if u love the holiday season and the songs appropriate to Christmas, Hanukkah, and a few show tunes. The songs & the singers are delightful. Go
Don't see it if You don't like plaid? You're immune to fun, melody and laughter? Your mother died on Friday? You can't stand looking back w/ love. U dead?
See it if you love to have a good time! It's a time trip back to the 50s TV holiday specials. You'll walk out ready for every holiday this season!
Don't see it if you're a grinch. This is Perry Como, The Lettermen, a few dozen songs (a whole Ed Sullivan Show!), wrapped with a holiday bow. We loved it!
See it if You like comedy and Christmas
Don't see it if You hate singing and Christmas
See it if you just want to turn off your critic and put a smile on your face. Forever Plaid returns for Christmas - good harmony singing.
Don't see it if you dislike vocal harmony. I can feel delightfully silly and light but If you can't let go of your Grinch then don't go.
See it if You or your parents grew up w/the music of the late '50s-early '60s.You want a warm & fuzzy, non-ironic Christmas show.
Don't see it if You want a show w/more edge. You don't like nostalgia. You want more contemporary music. You hate Christmas shows.
See it if you loved "Forever Plaid" & value excellent four part male harmony over anything else; you have the patience to sit through a LOONG 1st act
Don't see it if you have a low tolerance for bad writing and interminable set-up jokes for a weak story line
See it if you're looking for a fluffy musical. The show's entertainment value can't be denied and it's ability to provoke the holiday spirit is strong
Don't see it if you're looking for a show with substance. Though it does touch upon deeper feelings, the classic cheese of the quartet ultimately prevails.
See it if you loved the original Forever Plaid, which I do
Don't see it if you don't like fun fluffy theater musicals
See it if Great musical...has the feeling of 50's as well as Christmas...family show...must see for the holidays!!!
Don't see it if If you don't like musicals or revues
See it if You wonder where the wizard of oz came from
Don't see it if don't like wizard of oz