by Lorie Lewis Ham
If you’re headed over to the California coast anywhere near Santa Cruz, I highly recommend making a stop in Aptos for some Christmas fun. Plaid Tidings is on stage at Cabrillo Stage and it’s the most Christmas fun you’ll find anywhere.
The Plaids return to spread Christmas cheer and put some harmony back into a discordant world. (l to r) Tad Kistner, Max Bennett-Parker, Matt Dunn and Sean Gorski.
Plaid Tidings brings back the same four characters that are in Forever Plaid—a quartet of young men who were on their way to perform their big concert when they are killed in a car accident. In Forever Plaid they are allowed to return for one night to give that final concert—in Plaid Tidings they suddenly return again but they aren’t sure why. Not sure what else to do as they know they’re there for a purpose, they begin to sing some of their old songs and end up transitioning into some Christmas favorites with their own special twist. If you love good old fashioned, beautiful, four-part harmony sung by four good looking guys with some good clean comedy thrown in, this is the perfect show for you.
I saw Cabrillo Stage’s production of Forever Plaid a couple of years ago and two of the same guys are back for Plaid Tidings—Tad Kistner as Jinx and Max Bennett-Parker (who went to school in Fresno) as Frankie. There are two new guys in this production—Matt Dunn as Sparky and Sean Gorski as Smudge. I loved their production of Forever Plaid and I loved Plaid Tidings every bit as much. My brother, Drew Lewis, played piano and was the musical director for this show, but I’m not being prejudiced here this is a really fun show with great music.
The Plaids return to spread Christmas cheer and put some harmony back into a discordant world.
The harmonies were perfect, the voices were heavenly, the comedy was a hoot—add in the Christmas music and this is the best Christmas present you can give yourself this year. If you don’t have time to get over there before Christmas, the show runs through December 30. For more information and to purchase tickets check out the Cabrillo Stage website.
I don’t know the other men in the quartet, but my daughter was in The Music Man with Max Bennett-Parker here in Fresno. He also sang the lead in Les Mis here. The most amazing baritone, this guy should be on Broadway. Worth the drive to the coast!