For The Record: The Brat Pack
Reviewed by Julia Stier
For The Record
Extended through November 9
RECOMMENDED
“The Brats are back!”
The experience begins even before the show as you traverse a secret entrance that takes you to the 80s-themed speakeasy, Break Room 86. There, the inhabitants of Shermer High School are waiting to lead you on a journey through your favorite 80s teen flicks in For The Record: The Brat Pack.
Thrilling, touching, and just down right fun, this production — adapted and directed by Anderson Davis, choreographed by Sumie Maeda, with music supervision and arrangements by Jesse Vargas — is an immersive dive into the world of the 80s teen movie.
The aim of the show’s producing entity, For The Record, is to celebrate the soundtracks of movies. The company usually selects a famous director’s work, then crafts a story that is loosely tied together by songs from those films. The result is a concert/musical hybrid that is entertaining and engaging.
During the show, ensemble members assume archetypal roles common to as they portray different characters from various films, including The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Say Anything. The archetypes include The Princess (Parissa Koo), The Rebel (James Byous), The Basketcase (Emily Lopez), The Jock (Patrick Ortiz), The Brain (Kenton Chen), and the Authority Figure (Doug Kreeger).
What stands out in this production is the sheer talent of the vocalists. Chen smoothly and skillfully riffs his way through “Try a Little Tenderness.” Lopez brings down the house with a snare drum-enhanced, unrequited-love and/or teen-angst fueled rendition of “In Your Eyes.” As The Rebel, Byous appropriately and delightfully sings “Rebel Yell.” Koo and Ortiz, both truly talented singers, have voices worthy of headlining their own concerts. And as the stern figure of authority, Kreeger keeps the audience laughing at his antics.
There is probably no better venue for this kind of musical than Break Room 86. Its décor of old school posters, high school lockers, wall of cassette tapes, and slew of old arcade games comes together to create a ready-made set.
This is a must-see for any 80s teen movie aficionado — or really, anyone looking for a good time.
Break Room 86 — LINE Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown; Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; extended through Nov. 9. https://www.fortherecordlive.com/. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
