Back To The 80's - The Totally Awesome Musical!
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2004, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Back To The 80's was produced by Neil Gooding Productions in Sydney in September / October 2005, starring Australian soapie hearthrob Bruce Samazan. The production played at the Evan Theatre, Penrith Panthers and at The Riverside Theatre, Parramatta. The show enjoyed enormous success and played in front of huge, enthusiastic audiences. Click one of the following: + Reviews + Production Photos + Production Team + Principle Cast + Ensemble + Band

REVIEWS

Troy Dodds - Broadway Australia Website - 23 September 2004

Let's get this out of the way first: Back To The 80's doesn't have an original score, nor does it provide a thought-provoking storyline. But that's the point. Finally we have a musical that doesn't try to be unique, or special. It just sets out to entertain its audience. After all, isn't that what theatre is all about?

The musical takes you back to 1987, when the Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles were in their prime and when the Atari and Commodore 64 computer systems were cutting edge technology.

The show combines a host of classic songs from the decade most wish time had forgotten, including Let's Hear It For The Boy, Footloose, Lost In Your Eyes, Material Girl and Video Killed The Radio Star. Hidden amongst the popular 80's songs is a storyline focusing around a group of students in their final year at Ocean View High School. It's the classic 'girl falls for wrong guy' clich', while the 'nice guy loses'. Of course, it all works out in the end. But the storyline is only there to make this a true book musical, as the show is completely shaped by the songs.

Neil Gooding Productions has found an incredibly competent cast for this production - not one performer lets the side down, although there are several standouts. In the lead role of Tiffany, Naomi Wallace is superb. The best way to describe her voice, looks and stage presence is to say she could easily fit into the role of Ariel in a professional production of Footloose; the comparison made easier by the way she continued to belt out 80's classics like her life depended on it. Wallace has plenty of potential and one gets the feeling it's a name that won't be too far away from the mainstream theatre scene in Australia. While her acting ability doesn't get a great work-out in this production, the glimpses she was able to show provided enough assurance that she has potential.

Luke Joslin is excellent as Feargal McFerrin III, the class geek and ultimate hero who 'gets the girl of his dreams' by the show's end. Joslin's few solo numbers are among the highlights of the show, while his acting ability is top notch.

Michael O'Neill is quite strong as Corey Palmer, while you couldn't talk about this show without mentioning Andrew Godbold who does a terrific job as teacher Stevie Cocker. In his first performance on the Sydney stage, he gets a big thumbs up.

Back to the 80's is not meant to be taken seriously. It's not out to prove anything, but it does provide a great night of entertainment and plenty of laughs.

Two thumbs up.

^BACK TO TOP

PRODUCTION PHOTOS

^BACK TO TOP

PRODUCTION TEAM

^BACK TO TOP

Principle Cast

	Corey Palmer Snr Actor: BRUCE SAMAZAN	Corey Palmer Jnr Actor: MICHAEL O'NEILL	Alf Bueller Actor: MATT LULAN
	Kirk Keaton Actor: ROHAN MALOY	Tiffany Houston Actor: NAOMI WALLACE	Cyndi Gibson Actor: NATALIE STREAT
	Mel Easton Actor: MELISSA BOYD	Kim Easton Actor: EMILY STREAT	Michael Feldman Actor: ROB HALE
	Lionel Astley Actor: LUKE WRIGHT	Huey Jackson Actor: MICHAEL GUPTA	Feargal McFerrin III Actor: LUKE JOSLIN
	Feargal McFerrin III (COVER) Actor: PATRICK LEE	Eileen Reagan Actor: JENNI WREN	Laura Wilde Actor: RACHEL DONOVAN
	Debbie Fox Actor: KATRINA MANN	Miss Sheena Brannigan Actor: LEAH THOMAS	Mr Stevie Cocker Actor: ANDREW GODBOLD
	Featured Male Singer Actor: CHRIS GRIFFITHS	Featured Female Singer Actor: CASSANDRA JOSLIN

^BACK TO TOP

Ensemble

^BACK TO TOP

Band

^BACK TO TOP