Been away so long I hardly knew the placeGee, it's good to be back homeLeave it till tomorrow to unpack my caseHoney disconnect the phoneI'm back in the EMTC ’80sYou don't know how lucky you are, boyBack in the EMBack in the EMBack in the EMTC ’80s
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Well the Echuca girls really knock me outThey leave the rest behindAnd Moama girls make me sing and shoutThat they’re always on my my my my my my my my my mind(To the tune of Back in the USSR)
FORGET the future, it’s Back to the ’80s and no-one, but no-one, is going to get you there faster than Echuca-Moama Theatre Company’s sleeper smash hit Back To The ’80s.
Launched at the weekend in parallel with The Jungle Book, Back To The ’80s literally has people dancing in the aisles – and it’s no wonder.
Others are pulling on their fluoro leg warmers, yanking scrunchies out of the mothballs and lacing on those trendy Cons to get ready for the wildest ride to hit town in an era or two.
The show will instantly transport you back to 1986 when mullets and perms were cool, jocks ruled the playground, geeks were stuffed in lockers and William Ocean High School was preparing for school elections and prom night.
Back To The 80s takes you on a pop culture rollercoaster down memory lane to the era that brought you the Rubik’s Cube, Star Wars and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (and yes, they all get a moment on centre stage).
This junior production will have you hopping and bopping in (or out of) your seats to the timeless tracks, almost cringing with laughter at the incredibly pre-PC jokes and basking in 1980’s nostalgia.
The storyline might be a well-worn road but who cares, it’s only there to let the music to shine – and the cast of 32 does a superb job of bringing your glory days back to life, to a brighter and simpler time – when Michael Jackson was still black and girls just wanted to have fun.
Theatre veteran Matt McLindon is cool and convincing as Corey Palmer Snr, our guide to his to his reincarnation as a young man again (authentically portrayed by Griffin Visca-Lias), in his senior year of high school.
It follows his bid to be class president with the help of best friends Alf (the gifted and versatile Indi Gilmore) and Kirk (a flawless display by Ethan Kirchhofer).
And his quest for the heart of the girl he loves – Tiffany, a tour de force by rising star Harper Raverty.
But with brutish bully Michael Feldman, played with enthusiasm by EMTC newcomer Kurt Habgood, standing in the way of his dreams – and dream girl – the dorky Corey must prove to Tiffany he is the one.
Corey might not be in the hunt against Michael, but next to class geek Fergal McFerrin (Ethan O’Brien), he is Michael Jackson, Michael J Fox and Rick Astley rolled into one.
Ethan is undoubtedly the star of this show, playing the quintessential nerd complete with hysterical lisp, Ninja kicks and dance moves that will have you laughing until you cry.
His sidekicks Ella Carriero (who stars as Laura Wilde) and Emily Polidano (Debbie Fox) are two more of so many standouts of the show – providing hilarious comedic relief with big voices to match.
You won’t be able to get the trio’s rendition of Video Killed the Radio Star out of your mind for days, maybe weeks.
Madison Cartwright joins the gang as school newcomer Eileen Reagan and her beautiful voice is an asset to the show – producing a stunning harmony to Let’s Hear it for the Boy and Walking on Sunshine.
When it comes to vocal range, you can’t go past local songbird Drew Walker (conservative teacher Sheena Brannigan). Her voice is perfection, hitting every high note with ease.
And watching her not-so-secret relationship with teacher Stevie Crocker (shared by Darcy Elliott and James Coleman) play out is tantalisingly entertaining, especially when her secret is exposed.
Darcy, the king of comedy, does not disappoint and even rocks out a great version of You Give Love a Bad Name. James delivers an equally funny performance as the goofy maths teacher.
And what’s an American high school without cheerleaders (Kate Thomson as Cyndi Gibson and Ella McCormick and Emmy McDougal as ‘Mel and Kim’) and jocks (Olivia Nagle as Huey Jackson, Benjamin Harris as Billy Arnold and Lachlan Gould as Lionel Astley).
A big shout out to featured singers Ruby Oman and Brooke Harry, whose powerful vocals open both acts.
And no show would be complete without an energetic ensemble, all of whom contribute greatly to the production and look like they have stepped out of a 1980s magazine, thanks to the impressive efforts of the costume, hair and make-up teams.
But what gave this musical a dynamic edge was the band. The six-piece orchestra lifted the show to a new level and the clever decision to light them up while they jammed between scene changes ensured smooth and entertaining transitions.
It’s unbelievable to think the cast only had four rehearsals with the band, which practiced offsite for the past few months.
Choreographers Kaitlyn Bulmer, Lily Hindson and Ethan O’Brien, who created show-stopping dance numbers and even managed to nail the ‘Time of My Life’ dance from Dirty Dancing must take a huge bow.
Overseeing it all, Mark Thomson and Zali McKee – despite the chronological challenges – made a spectacularly seamless transition as directors. He could tell Zali what really mattered back in the old days (he was at school and uni in the ’80s) and she could tell him when an old man had said enough (she’s a Gen Z who wasn’t even thought of until the late 1990s).
Together, they have produced a hyper-engaging, radically entertaining and comedic experience that will make it hard to go Back To The 2019s.
This weekend is your last chance to catch Back to the ’80s at the Paramount.
Be there or be square.