Hello everyone! 🙂
Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!
Last weekend, I saw ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ for the first time at the Adelphi Theatre in London on Saturday the 2nd of August. I had a great time seeing this musical adaptation of the first ‘Back to the Future’ movie, as it was an amazing experience for me.
I took some photos of the Adelphi Theatre early in the day before seeing the production in the evening. I also took a couple of photos of the ‘Back to the Future’ stage. It was a pretty amazing to see the combination of musical numbers and visual effects throughout.
It’s very fitting that I saw ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ in London recently, especially to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ‘Back to the Future’ franchise itself. Earlier this year, I read and reviewed the first ‘Back to the Future’ movie novelization by George Gipe.
It was amazing when watching the musical version of the first ‘Back to the Future’ film that I recalled certain elements of the story from seeing the film and from reading the novelization. It was very easy to recall lines of dialogue said by characters in the musical.
I did wonder how ‘Back to the Future’ would be made as a musical and whether it would really work. Thankfully, the incorporation of the plot and dialogue said by characters blended quite well with the musical numbers. It wasn’t distracting as I anticipated it’d be.
I wouldn’t say I recall the musical numbers instantly, as I would need to see ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ more than once to appreciate them more. But at least they had ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Back in Time’ by Huey Lewis and the News, which I recall from the movie.
There’s also ‘Earth Angel’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’. Most of these familiar songs were included in Act Two. The finale did feel very satisfying with ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Back in Time’ being performed at the musical’s end and it did make the experience very worthwhile.
This wasn’t like ‘The Lion King’ stage musical where you know most of the songs being performed. Like I said, I probably would need to see ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ more than once to appreciate the musical numbers. Maybe I should buy the music CD. 🙂
What I’ve noticed from seeing the stage musical is how it features a combination of a 1980s musical blending in with a 1950s musical. I quite like that set-up, especially when it concerns Marty being so overwhelmed with the fact he’s travelled back in time to 1955.
The performances of the cast are very good, including Caden Brauch as Marty McFly and Cory English as Doc Brown. There’s Sarah Goggin as Lorraine Baines, Marty’s mother and Orlando Gibbs as George McFly, Marty’s father. Wait a second! Orlando Gibbs is in this?!!
For those who don’t know, Orlando Gibbs has been in the ‘Timeslip’ audios by Big Finish, playing Neil Riley. And he was in the 2020 Christmas Special of ‘Call the Midwife’. I find it incredible that Orlando is playing George McFly in the ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’.
There’s also Alex Runicles as Biff Tannen, Talia Palamathanan as Jennifer Parker, C.J. Borger as Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry, Lee Ormsey as Mr. Strickland, Liam McHugh as Dave McFly, Patricia Wilkins as Linda McFly and Billie Bowman as the Clocktower Woman.
The big star of the ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ is of course the car – the Delorean that can travel in time. It was interesting to find that the Delorean is voice-activated, but only on Doc Brown’s command. That’s something that wasn’t in the movie itself.
Omissions in the translation from the ‘Back to the Future’ film into ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ include the Libyan terrorists that killed Doc Brown in 1985. This is replaced with Doc Brown dying from radiation poisoning from the plutonium for the time machine.
In the musical, two scenes where Marty encourages George to ask Lorriane out to the Enchantment to the Sea dance at Hill Valley High School are compressed into one. Meaning that there’s no Darth Vader scene between Marty and George, which is a shame.
However, Marty does get to use a lightsaber when confronting Biff and tells him “I am your father”, which makes no sense since where did the lightsaber came from? One wonders whether it was a dream or not. But it was funny to see it in the musical production.
Speaking of dreams, Act Two opens with a musical number performed by Doc Brown where he dreams about the 21st century. The TARDIS even makes an appearance in the musical number. 😀 Every time I try to get away from ‘Doctor Who’, I can’t do it, can I? 😀
There was plenty of ‘weight’ jokes in the musical between Marty and Doc Brown when Marty kept saying “This is heavy!” 😀 There was a reference to a ‘Back to the Future, Part IV’ book being published and George saying the filmmakers would probably muck it up in making the film.
I enjoyed that reference being made and could see what the musical was up to, as there’s been plenty of debate of whether ‘Parts IV, V and VI’ should be made. Quite frankly, I prefer ‘Back to the Future’ as a trilogy and I don’t think any follow-up films could ever surpass it.
‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ has been a wonderful experience for me, and I know my best friend from school, Stephen, enjoyed it very much. I’m glad we were able to see it on a weekend away in London, as ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ was a true highlight.
I hope to see ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ again soon, whether it’s this year or next year. I highly recommend checking out the musical if you’re a ‘Back to the Future’ fan like me. And even if you’re not, you’re bound to have a fantastic and exhilarating time indeed.
Check out the ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ website for more details on where and when you can see it, either in the UK or around the world, including North America.
Thanks for reading!
Bye for now!
Tim 🙂
Bradley's Basement 
Thank you, Tim, for your review.
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Hi scifimike,
Glad you enjoyed my review. Already booked to see ‘Back to the Future – The Musical’ again in September. And I’ve purchased and just recieved the ‘Back to the Future – Parts II and III’ novelizations in the post.
Best wishes,
Tim 🙂
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I agree that Back To The Future, at least the movie series, is best served as a trilogy. Certainly to be spared the sequel curse that too many classics have suffered from. I’ve been on record for consequently appreciating the more short-lived sci-fi franchises nowadays. I remember a time when fans were quite naturally excited to hear the updates for more Star Trek, Star Wars and Dr. Who. Nowadays most fans, myself included, may ask themselves if it’s the same. Of course the musical potentials could encourage our hopes that more is substantially possible. And of course Back To The Future is not alone in that regard. For a 40th anniversary year of Back To The Future, certain chances can fairly enough be worth taking, as was a high school stage play recreation of the first Alien to celebrate its 40th. So I can keep enough faith that some specific endeavors can surprisingly pay off.
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Hi scifimike,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I can’t deny I was dubious about the idea of ‘Back to the Future’ being a musical when it was first announced back in 2020. But since it’s become popular over the years, my curiosity got the better of me, and I’m very pleased I got to see it last week in London. I’m looking forward to checking it out again in September and hopefully with more appreciation of the musical numbers.
Best wishes,
Tim 🙂
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