Delaware Valley Regional High School’s fall play, “Back to the 80s,” brought audiences back to the colorful and chaotic decade of neon with exaggerated slang and classic pop culture references. Premiering on Nov. 14, the production combined humor, vibrant costumes and energetic performances that left the audience smiling.

While the opening scenes started off a bit slow, the momentum quickly picked up once the time-travel storyline took center stage. From then on, the cast delivered lively character work and plenty of laughs.

The cast’s recreation of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance complete with zombie choreography and full ’80s flair earned loud cheers and was easily among the evening’s highlights.

Heather Fitzfry, the main protagonist’s mother and played by junior Juliana Soos, also stood out. She delivered her lines naturally without rushing or overacting, while also giving that funny over the top humor.

Soos said the high-energy production made it enjoyable.

“It was really fun and kept everything super positive,” Soos said. “That’s really important, especially when rehearsals get stressful.”

Soos hoped the audience left the theater with a sense of fun and curiosity.

“I hope people went home asking, ‘What is this from?’ and watched the movies referenced,” Soos said. “They’re classics, and I think it’s really cool to remember those parts of pop culture.”

While some scenes had moments that made the audience cringe, the show maintained a high level of entertainment.

Freshman Mia Domingo, who played Taekwondo Teen, said being part of her first fall play was a fun experience. “The group was super nice and understanding, and rehearsals felt like being at a summer camp,” Domingo said. “For three months of rehearsal, I think we did great.”

Domingo said her favorite moment was performing onstage as Taekwondo Teen, an experience that helped her feel welcomed and confident as a new member of the cast.

The cast gave an overall fun and engaging performance to the stage. “Back to the 80s” was a lively, fun-filled performance that showcased the talent of Del Val’s students. It was a joyful trip down memory lane for anyone who remembers or just loves the 1980s.