The musical Back to the 80's, which is the first joint venture between the CBS and Presentation Secondary Schools in Mitchelstown, is a must see for any theatre fans, as many of these young singers and actors are bright young stars waiting for their chance to shine on the world stage.

Staged in the CBS hall, the show will run for three days with the opening night Wednesday this week and it will run Thursday and Friday night with curtain at 8pm. There were also matinee shows for the primary school students in the area held on Wednesday and Thursday morning.

FASHIONISTAS

Complete with cheer leaders, 'cool' guys with sunglasses, Rubick's cubes as props and flourescent leg warmers, the show is a blast from the past for those who remember the Eighties and it will give the younger audience members a great giggle to see how their older siblings or parents embraced this decade (which in terms of fashion was probably the most hilarious).

With ponytails worn to the side, leggings and cheesy sunglasses, the cast of the show from the two schools really encapsulated the atmosphere for the senior year of an American high school.

Cormac Sheehan is the narrator in his thirties, taking the audience through his days at school and through classics, such as 'Eye of the Tiger', 'Footloose' and 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun', we see the characters go through victory, defeat, love, loss, friendships and schoolyard cruelty.

Led by musical director Edel McEniry, the live music adds a very authentic feel to the songs and with some very strong vocalists shining through, it is hard not to imagine some of the actors on the stage in the West End in years to come.

GREAT TALENT

While going up on stage and singing can be daunting, the students took it in their stride, giving the audience a great night of entertainment on Wednesday. One scene to watch out for is the solo by Fergal O Baoill, which will simply blow you away, as he takes the stage with his breathtaking rendition of 'The Glory of Love'.

Rehearsals started for the show last October and it is clear that the hours spent practicing have paid off, as the students delivered a flawless first performance. 

The show itself would not have been possible without Edel McEniry, Winnie Fitzgerald, Michelle O'Keeffe, choreographer Tracey Roche, Tracey Hearne, the Mitchelstown Musical Society who generously lent props and the businesses who supported the show. 

Tickets for the show cost €10 for adults and €5 for children. A family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) may be purchased for €25. Tickets should be purchased in advance and are available at SuperValu, Hyland's Bookshop and Centra in Mitchelstown. They are also available from the schools - Presentation Secondary (025-24394) or CBS Secondary (025-24104).

blog comments powered by Disqus