Awesome 80s Prom @ Webster Hall, NYC
by Stephen Bailey
December 4, 2004

So there I was trying to decide what to wear to the Awesome 80s Prom. I mean … do folks really dress up for this thing? Then I remembered that my wardrobe in the 80s is pretty much as it is now; denim, flannel and chucks. In fact I actually had a pair of denim chucks with flannel lining. Talk about keeping true to the fashion (or lack thereof).

In a definite twist from my actual (not so) Awesome 80s Prom, I had a date this time around. Way back in 1984 my date canceled to go with the janitor she was sleeping with (I kid you not). This would lead me to blowing off the prom for some partying at a friends house, then the obligatory weekend in Seaside Heights, NJ. To say we partied is an understatement. For many years following 1984, you could not get a room at certain Hotels in Seaside Heights if you said you were from Cliffside Park! Anyway, this time around I knew I could count on my good friend Liz not to cancel on me. So off I went in my denim, flannel and chucks to pick her up. Damn!! ... Forgot the corsage. Ah ... She'll forgive me.

Upon entering Webster Hall we were told of the rules for slow dancing. "12 inches apart, specifically in the pelvic region," according to the ruler wielding Drama Teacher. As we walked among Wanaget High's Class of '89 (whose football team are the Wanaget Beavers), we noticed the astounding amount of guests in full 80s regalia. And, much like a real school dance, the girls far out numbered the boys. Not that I was complaining. That slutty Madonna meets Molly Ringwald look is still kinda hot. Though Liz pointed out that their hair was not quite high enough.

Most of the guests, as far as we could tell, were not old enough to remember the 80s. This made both of us feel … well … kinda old and the cynic in me immediately thought this was going to be all kinds of corny and hokey. However as the evening moved along, we were both struck with honest feelings of nostalgia and fun as members of the audience were pulled into the storyline.

At one point as I was approached by Blake, the Captain of the football team. "Team meeting in the parking lot. Five minutes!" he announced. So off a group of us guys went to the parking lot (which was just the bar in the other room). "Take a knee men" Blake says. There I was on my wobbly arthritic knee thinking, "This is fun but hurry up man! My legs can't take much more of this!"

"We all gave 120% this year men!! Still ... we came in last. But that's OK because we all made a promise that by Prom, we'd get laid!! Right!?!? And we all did it except for ... " Blake turns to one poor, unsuspecting young man, " ... except for Pee Wee here. Let's make a promise that by the end of the night we will get Pee Wee laid!!"

As we cheered and marched back to the main room I yelled to Blake , "Let me get a shot of you and Pee Wee!"

"Stop picking on my little boy!!" I heard as I snapped the picture. I assumed it was his mom. Oh geez!! I sure hope that was his mom.

Soon after I was pulled aside by Inga the Exchange Student. She said needed a host to stay in the country. I confessed that could not since I was already hosting two others but I would vote for her to be prom queen. Mostly because of her impressive displays of dexterity.

Liz decided to get into the act as well by telling head cheerleader Whitley that she slept with her boyfriend Blake. Of course Whitley and Blake were embroiled that most classic of high school romance cliches ... the on again off again relationship.

Liz then became the best friend of Kerry the Spaz who was madly and not so secretly, in love with Blake. She had a Cabbage Patch Kid that wore the same team jacket as her beloved man. Liz told her something I could not hear over the music.

"A popular girl likes me! She's my best friend," Kerry yelled as she ran off only to be accosted by the class rebel. Fear not, things did work out for Kerry in what seemed at the time to be a weird twist but in hindsight makes perfect sense. I won't give it away though. You'll have to go to the show to find out this and a few other nice curveballs. Then again, maybe those chage each night too? It would not surprise me.

The night was peppered by angry rants from the principal, announcements by both the Head of the Prom Committee and the President of the Student Council, one of the cheerleaders (Heather #1 or #2 ... I'm not sure) getting progressively more injured and a special appearance by Michael Jackson!

There was A LOT going on here. It was impossible to take everything in. The cast skillfully kept all of the routines going in every corner of the space. Not even the sidewalk outside Webster Hall was off limits. It was a balancing act between the scripted bits, improv and spontaneous audience participation. At points, it was even hard to tell who was actually part of the show and who wasn't.

Name any famous 80s movie and your favorite character was well represented. In fact, the DJ was called John Hughes for those who somehow didn't get the Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink connections.

Producer Ken Davenport confessed that sometimes the players were too on the money as drunken guests would start fights with the cast. To me such out breaks only imply that a successful night of good theater had taken place. It means the players were doing their jobs so right that folks could not distinguish the reality from the pretend. Besides, who wouldn't like to see some overly enthusastic club going tourist get "too" into it and foolishly start a fight with the exquisitely bitchy cheerleaders or the mean rotten bully or the flamboyant I've-yet-to-accept-that-I'm-gay guy.

All in all this is a highly recommended experience. Lots of fun dancing, reminiscing and soaking in the multi-level plot lines. One critique though ... the ticket prices are a bit steep as are the drinks. $7 beers and $9 mixed drinks are pretty standard fare for NYC. However, when you factor in the lowest ticket price of $60, it can get to be a pricey night. Still, if you can round up the money, go and check it out. You will have a lot of fun. Especially if you went to high school in the 80s.

Cheers,
Stephen

Related Links:
http://www.awesome80sprom.com
http://www.websterhall.com

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
I call myself a Cultural Exchange Advocate, which is just a fancy way of saying when
I find something new, I tell people about it. Want to know more? Check out StephenBailey.com