I had modest expectations for “Back to the ’80s.”
I knew Staples Players’ summer show would be fun. I figured I’d spend last night entertained and amused, by a typically high-quality Players production.
But the ’80s were 3o-plus years ago. That’s more than a decade before the high school performers were born. How much could they really “get” the music, the memories, the pop culture references?
They did more than get it. They blew the audience away.
The “Get Out Of My Dreams (Get Into My Car)” ensemble. (Photo/Kerry Long)
“Back to the ’80s” is one of the best shows you’ve never heard of.
It’s laugh-out-loud hilarious.
The reinterpretations of songs — from “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Love Shack” to “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and (especially) “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” — is eye-opening.
Colin Konstanty, Jasper Burke, Nick Rossi and Sam Mandelbaum cut loose. (Photo/Kerry Long)
And the little touches (embarrassingly short shorts on guys, bad hair on girls) bring you right back to the days of Pac-Man and David Hasselhof.
There are plenty of things to do today and tomorrow. Many of them can wait.
Make time — if you can — for “Back to the ’80s.” Bring the kids, even if they were born in the 2000s.
Only 3 performances remain: Today (Saturday, July 13, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.), and tomorrow (Sunday, July 14, 3 p.m.). Tickets are available by clicking here, or at the Staples High School auditorium.
Trust me (and Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes): You’ll have the time of your life.
Mia Kobylinkski and Charlie Zuckerman (Photo/Kerry Long)
Staples Players director David Roth does a star turn as the show’s 2019 narrator. (Photo/Kerry Long)
Totally agree. The show was so much fun. So much talent. We actually own a Ms PAC Man. It would have been a great prop for the show.
As always, Staples performances never disappoint…The Show was so much fun to watch and certainly brought back many memories…
As I was “married with children” (who both attended SHS much later on in the 90s) in 1984…it was relatable in a different sense than those (aka…David Roth!) that truly experienced their high school days in the 80s…
Keep up the good work! Westport is blessed to have the talent…and the opportunity for those …to shine! 🎼🎤🎶
Count me in on those that were blow away by this outstanding performance. A true not to miss blast from the past – the music and singing are awesome. The live band playing the music was tremendous and added much to the enjoyment. Acting and directing top notch!!!
Amen to all that!
I was an 80’s Staple’s high schooler, and remember well David Roth back then!
Sounds like this show is a … well, a showstopper!
Oh, and Dan, this line of yours, “embarrassingly short shorts on guys, bad hair on girls” made me laugh, and cringe!
It was impossibly ridiculous to maintain that big eighties hair for us gals (and likely the same mess for the big-hair male rock bands to maintain), but I have to say … nothing wrong with the short-shorts on the guys, IMO.
Hey, I’m a straight woman who actually appreciates a man not afraid to show some leg!
And frankly, the current trend of knee length baggie not-shorts is sooo tired, fashion wise, IMO. Just sloppy. Who’s idea was THAT, I ask … humbly, and with … ahem, respect to the fan-boys who wear them.
Oh yeah, it likely originated and “evolved” from the plumber’s crack low slung, combined with the hip-hop trend of oversized and barely staying up shorts trend.
Yay! “Women-Repeller’s”! 😂
(Just having fun here … don’t get your panties into a wad, folks).
Dan … great post! Wish I could attend the show.