By Michael J. Toscano
Special to the Washington Post
Thursday, March 9, 2006

If June Cleaver and Harriet Nelson are your idea of desperate housewives, and if you linger for a few extra moments in elevators just for the music, then the Reston Community Players have got a show for you.

"Forever Plaid" strings together some fairly good songs featuring bright, sentimental lyrics and melodies from the 1950s, but not before mashing the soul out of them. Those who cherish the songs, such as "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Moments to Remember," "No, Not Much" and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," won't be pleased. Everyone else will probably enjoy the tight four-part harmonies and the corny comedy before, during and after the songs.

Somebody named Stuart Ross is credited with the "original concept" for the show. But he seems embarrassed by the music, acting as though these non-rock pop tunes from the 1950s and early '60s can't make it on their own. So he sneaks them in through the lame story of the "Plaids," a male quartet killed on the night the Beatles made their debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Some kind of cosmic burp has deposited them back on earth for a night, and they do the old act, which specializes in the gentle harmony of such groups as the Lettermen and the Four Freshmen. There's none of the urban male sound of Frank Sinatra here or the hillbilly-meets-black-rhythm-and-blues of Elvis Presley, both of whom created new musical genres in the '50s.

Veterans Wade Corder, baritone, and Troy Miller, tenor, who have performed their roles in previous area productions of the show, lead tenor Chris Borton and not-quite-a-bass Rick Stegman nicely through their paces. Miller serves as choreographer.

Except for Stegman's inability to hit the low notes in his solo of "16 Tons," the singing is flawless, the harmonies rich and full. There is a great deal of complicated comedy material, usually timed to the split second. They perform it perfectly and earn hearty laughs.

Each singer gets to flesh out his "character" as they go about their business, which includes a show-stopping re-creation of "The Ed Sullivan Show" that encapsulates everything you may remember of the show's regular guests and routines. The bit is a frenzy of props and impersonations, while Miller sings "Lady of Spain." It's uproariously funny. But Ross then kills all the spirit with a grim discussion about how the group is doomed to return to death's embrace.

The four men play their parts as if the roles belonged to 16-year-old girls, which gets cloying. Maybe they think that batting their eyes and mincing about like schoolgirls make such mild double-entendres as, "We'd like to work your private functions," less spicy, to dredge up a '50s term. That wouldn't be so bad if the neutering did not extend to the music, which is performed as if the singers, pianist and bass player are all hooked up to a giant metronome, giving each song the same mechanical beat. Ever want to hear "Three Coins in the Fountain" or "No, Not Much" done in slow march tempo? Here's your chance.

To be fair, an opening weekend performance generated loud applause from the mostly senior-age audience. But real music lovers hoping for a tribute to the Four Aces will be disappointed by four jokers instead.

"Forever Plaid" continues through March 25, performed by Reston Community Players at CenterStage, in the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd. Showtime Fridays and Saturdays is 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. this weekend and next. For reservations, visit the box office or call 703-476-4500. For information and to make online reservations, visithttp://www.RestonPlayers.org.