Back to the 80s
at West Chester East High School

Reviewed on February 27, 2015

India Henderson
Westtown School
Submitted for publication to Inquirer-1

Material Girl. Love Shack. Footloose. ALL your favorite 80's classics were included in West Chester East's production of Back to the 80's. This noteworthy cast got the audience singing along to the great songs of the 80's that we all know and love. Their exciting energy was engaging and refreshing to watch!

Written by Neil Gooding, this heartwarming coming-of-age story is told through the eyes of Corey Palmer Sr., of the graduating class of 1985. He flashes back into the past to talk about his senior year of high school when he tries to win the popular girl-next-door's heart. Although he's not as "cool" as the rest, he is determined to get her attention.

This cast was always "in character", even when leaving the stage and through transitions. Also, there was something special about every character. It was very clear that they had spent a lot of time perfecting their performance and their hard work definitely paid off.

Tommy Iacono, as Corey Palmer Jr., showed us not only his great comedic timing, but also his genuine side. He made us want to be his best friend! Furthermore, Alexa Ellis (Cyndi Gibson) performed outstandingly; whenever she entered the stage all eyes were on her and her sharp dance moves, fierce facial expressions, and stunning stage presence.

Other standout performances came from Dianna Robinson (Eileen Reagan) and Philip Mathew (Feargal McFerrin). Their constant commitment and ownership of their characters was so fun and inspiring to watch. Likewise, Georgia Naples, Olivia Heisterkamp, John Vincent Saddic, James Shafer, Danny Vagnoni, Samantha Fenimore and Erin Nucifora put 100% of themselves into their performances and the audience loved every second of it.

The lights and sets complemented the performance so tastefully, never too distracting or not enough. The transitions were also clean and clear. Kudos the stage crew! With big props such as a chalkboard and dozens of chairs, I was surprised that I barely noticed the transitions taking place at all.

Being born in 1999, at first it was hard to believe that a show with music from a time period that I have not lived in could be interesting, but the West Chester East Theatre Company made this show entertaining for all ages. And, of course, I did end up enjoying all the music too. Great job to the cast and crew. Bravo!

Jane Mentzinger
Westtown School
Submitted for publication to Inquirer-2

Girls (and guys) who just want to have fun should head to West Chester East's production of "Back to the 80's." When I walked in the theater, I was a little skeptical about two hours of old music, but the evening was a total blast. The show will make you want to dust off your parents' old albums.

"Back to the 80's" by Neil Gooding is a jukebox musical with a mix of pop songs from the 80's. It tells the story of Corey Palmer, who reflects on his senior year with its mix of cool guys, popular girls, nerds, teachers, and outcasts. The show's plot is intentionally silly and contrived; the story is just a framework on which to hang the songs.

The "Back to the 80's" energetic cast made everyone in the audience want to get up and dance. The production numbers were very polished, thanks to what must have been extensive rehearsal time. The huge cast never missed a beat, staying in synch and making the dance transitions look smooth and natural. All cast members conveyed distinct personalities, staying in the characters they created even during scene changes.

While the show featured many great actors, a few stood out. Alexa Ellis, as Cyndi Gibson, gave Madonna a run for her money with her rendition of "Material Girl." Ellis continued to shine every time she hit the stage, even when she was part of the ensemble. Tommy Iacono's enthusiasm and comic timing transformed Corey Palmer from a straight man to a crowd-pleasing lead.

Playing a clique of nerdy girls, Dianna Robinson, Samantha Fenimore, and Erin Nucifora were so hilarious and dynamic in "Walking on Sunshine" that I didn't want them to leave the stage. John Vincent Saddic really put himself out there with his passionate "promposal" in "Never Gonna Give You Up;" how could she have said no?

The backstage work was very strong. The lighting design was particularly effective, clearly illuminating the actors but also enhancing the funky mood with creative touches. The scene changes were seamless. The detail on the blackboard prop was evocative of high school and really funny.

West Chester East's "Back to the 80's" cast was clearly thinking "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" when they took the stage last night. Nothing did.

Colette Nolan
Cardinal O'Hara High School
Submitted for publication to Kennett Paper

Everyone likes to indulge in a bit of nostalgia every once in a while. In the musical Back to the 80's, performed this weekend at West Chester East High School, both the performers and the audience got to indulge in that nostalgia.
The show follows a thirty-something man named Corey Palmer as he looks back at his senior year of high school in the 1980's. Corey has a huge crush on his neighbor Tiffany Houston but she barely acknowledges him and instead focuses her attentions on the resident cool guy Michael Feldman. The musical is filled with classic high school problems like Class President elections and prom dates. To top it all off, some of the top songs from the 80's are mixed in with all the fun.

Tommy Iacono charmed the audience in his performance as young Corey Palmer. Iacono's subtle humor and Marty McFly inspired wardrobe were just a few of the greatest parts of his performance. Tiffany Houston (Georgia Naples) was the typical girl next door, literally. Naples performed admirably in the song "Lost in Your Eyes." Unfortunately for Corey, Tiffany falls for the wildly popular Michael Feldman (James Quartermus). Quartermus' skills were showcased in his role as Feldman and in numbers like "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "Footloose".

Many of the minor roles were "totally tubular". Feargal McFerrin (Philip Mathew) was hilariously nerdy, claiming that one day CDs would overrun cassette tapes. Eileen Reagan (Dianna Robinson) was bubbly and cheerful throughout the show. Her heartbreak over Michael Feldman's "prank" had much of the audience thinking "Poor Eileen."

The hard work and effort shown by the performers was matched by the technical and stage crews. The lighting and sound were excellent and added to the show's appeal. Stage manager Lindsey Walsh turned in a quick and efficient stage crew that was so good at its job it sometimes seemed that no one noticed them!

Overall, West Chester East's production of Back to the 80's was filled to the brim with energy. Everywhere you looked, every cast member was in character and engaging the audience. The story was timeless and the music was enjoyable for several generations. Let's not forget the numerous 80's references like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Star Wars, and The Karate Kid. All in all, the musical was highly enjoyable and it kept the audience engaged throughout.

Joseph Urian
Cardinal O'Hara High School
Submitted for publication to Viking Review

"Marty! We have to go back!..... Back to the 80's!" "Back to the 80's" is a unique show, so was the decade, so it makes sense. The show revolves around senior Corey Palmer, reminiscing about his high school life. Corey goes through the typical days with popular kids, nerds, jocks, and then himself and his two friends Alf Bueller (played by James Shafer) and Kirk Keaton (Liam Dorsey).

The character of Corey Palmer is played by two actors. Mr. Sean Martin plays the older Corey, who is remembering his earlier times, while Tommy Iacono plays the teenage Corey, who is trying to ask his crush to the senior prom. Tommy Iacono does a wonderful performance with impeccable timing with comedic situations (such as running for class president) and subtle references to different movies from the 80's.

Corey's crush, Tiffany Houston, is played by Georgia Naples. Georgia brings the character to life by adding a sense of levity and kindheartedness to the character's already loving personality. Problem is, Tiffany barely notices Corey.

The music was very familiar, bringing back memories and showing the newer generations the music of a previous time. The music chosen was somewhat comical, and yet very clever at the same time. Overall, seeing a guy dressed similar to Marty McFly singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart" just made people's nights and blew minds.

The choreography was in sync with the musical performance by the students putting this show together. Just about all the dancers put their all into the performance and we could tell just by looking at them. Many of the dancers ended up in sync with one another as well. The performance overall went along smoothly without any hitches.

During the show, there were some subtle references to some big names and events during the 1980's such as a mention of a nerd with the name of Gates. Another hint was a computer program known as the Internet, which everyone laughed at, same with cellphones and CDs. These subtle hints made the show more comical and made the audience pay a little more attention to dialogue.

The show overall is a unique, comical, and just subtle. There was even Star Was nightmare thrown into the mix!"Back to the 80's" surely is just a very interesting musical to look into and spend some time enjoying, and just remember "Let the show be with you always".