On Theater: Deck the halls with ‘Plaid Tidings’

Few theatergoers require an introduction to “Plaid Tidings,” the holiday version of the off-Broadway hit “Forever Plaid,” now filling audiences at the Westminster Community Playhouse with Christmas spirit.

“Forever” has been running like, well, forever, or at least since its creation in 1990. Its popularity has inspired the holiday package with the same characters, a harmonizing guy quartet from the pre-Elvis 1950s that was wiped out in a crash with a bus filled with teens en route to see the Beatles’ debut on the Ed Sullivan show (which would make it in 1964).

In the Westminster production, director Patricia Miller has assembled an engaging foursome whose snappy moves have been choreographed by one of the Plaids, Miller’s husband, Bradley, who joins Darren C. Buckels, Steven Jones and Bob Nydegger — all except Jones looking appreciably older, since this version is set in the present day.

Their “mission” in this second return to Earth is to present a Christmas concert, which they accomplish splendidly after performing some of the golden oldies from the “Forever” gig — songs like “Stranger in Paradise,” “Sh-Boom,” “Besame Mucho,” “Hey There” and “Fever” — with a little extraterrestrial assistance from Rosemary Clooney.

In the second act, they shed their plaid jackets and dig into the seasonal tributes, while saving time for a few “Forever” favorites like Harry Belafonte’s audience-participation “Matilda” and a fast-forwarded version of the Ed Sullivan show.

Perry Como also takes center stage, via a TV clip, in a tribute to the time the Plaids almost accompanied him in some Christmas melodies before his real backup singers showed up.

Buckels handles the smoothness of Frankie’s lead singing duties, while Miller hits a comical high note as the nosebleed-prone Jinx. Jones, the “kid” of the bunch, excels as a sped-up Ed Sullivan and Bob Nudegger is a fine physical comic as Sparky. Together, they’re a nostalgic treat — especially if you can remember listening to these songs when they were fresh.

Splendidly backed up by musical director Bill Wolfe and guitarist Adolfo Kushelevich, “Plaid Tidings” is a thoroughly enjoyable yuletide season experience, creatively mounted at the Westminster Community Playhouse.

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IF YOU GO

What: “Plaid Tidings”

Where: Westminster Community Playhouse, 7272 Maple St., Westminster

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec.20

Cost: $18 to $20

Information: (714) 893-8626