Back to the Future The Musical review
3 min read
We all know the story. Boy meets girl. Girl is boy’s mum. Boy sets up dad and mum. The rest is history.
Launched in Manchester in February 2020 at the Manchester Opera House, the show is now on at London’s West End – Adelphi Theatre. It is also set to launch in New York on Broadway in 2023.
Musical
Back To The Future: The Musical, is as you guessed, a musical version of the film from 1985. Featuring songs by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, they stick really to the script of time travel, with songs such as It’s Only a Matter of Time, Future Boy and 21st Century. For fans of the film who want it to stick even closer to the script, you are in luck as The Power of Love and Johnny B. Goode are both there. Throughout the show, songs are mostly played for laughs or big dance numbers and lightshow, as this is a big feel-good family show.
The new songs feel secondary to the classic story and even the car. The songs are light and flashy, but the show really comes to life when it sticks to the script of the film.
Attention to detail
Where this production really shines, is the love and attention to detail put in to everything. The production has gone above and beyond, every scene comes to life with a different set; the high school, the diner, the McFly’s family home are all there. Even the peeping tom tree.
Cast
The cast have done a great job with their portrayals of the characters from the film and are mostly spot on. George McFly is particularly over the top and played for laughs, but still has you routing for him against Biff. It’s on stage so needs to be even more over the top.
Marty, looks and sounds the part, is likeable and cheeky, you want him to get back to the future. Most importantly his odd-couple chemistry with Doc, like the film, shine through.
Doc is the Doc from the film, but gets a chance to be his own version. Doc is one of the highlights when he appears. Having some of the bigger dance numbers he is the main
DeLorean
Other than the musical numbers, what sets this apart from film is the fact that it’s taking place in front of your eyes on stage. One of the most iconic parts of Back To The Future is the time travelling car; the DeLorean. Before it starts you wonder how they will get such an integral part of the film to work on stage. How do you get a car to travel exactly 88 miles per hour on stage? This is where the production really shines. Even if you don’t enjoy musicals or theatre, watching the DeLorean in motion is one of the most technically impressive feats. It is a real spectacle watch it go, they really didn’t need any roads at this show.
Back To The Future: The Musical: The Film
Lea Thompson, who plays Marty’s mum in the film, suggested in Filmhounds Magazine that the only new Back To The Future film would be a version of the musical. If you ignore Power of Love, the music while can be quite fun is the least memorable part of the show. Because of the spectacle of the DeLorean this works on stage, but wouldn’t necessarily translate to film, especially since the original exists which it follows so closely.
This show is light, family fun and fans of the film series will not be disappointed. The production has spared no expense in making it a spectacle. Kids will love it and parents.
