BACK TO THE FUTURE NEEDS TO GO BACK
TO THE DRAWING BOARD
The Broadway tour of Back to the Future, a musical adaptation of the beloved film, has landed at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace as part of a national tour. Directed by John Rando, it is visually marvelous and otherwise totally unmemorable. This is a theatre experience for fans of the movie, and fans, perhaps, that wouldn’t otherwise go see theatre. I think it’s great to try to get new audiences in the door, but it saddens me that this might be their first impression of a Broadway show. The spectacle is there. The acting is there. The dancing, and singing, and costumes are there, but the artistry is not.
Caden Brauch
Don Stephenson and Caden Brauch
The book is written by Bob Gale, the co-creator, co-writer, and co-producer of all three Back to the Future films. In his bio he proclaims himself the “gatekeeper of the franchise,” but I think the musical would be more successful if a playwright was allowed through the gate. While I think Gale’s writing in the film is extremely strong, screenwriting and playwriting are different skills, and Gale’s delightful comedy and storytelling don’t translate as well to this adaptation. The pacing feels off throughout, and several scenes end with a strange button that leaves the audience unsure if they are supposed to applaud.
Caden Brauch
Zan Berube, Burke Swanson, Caden Brauch and Company
The music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri (Back to the Future film scores) and Glen Ballard (Ghost) are underwhelming and ultimately forgettable. Only one song strikes me as memorable: “For the Dreamers”, sung by Doc Brown (Don Stephenson). But another song, “Got No Future”, is reprised several times throughout the show by Marty McFly (Caden Brauch), and it bogs down the momentum of the piece every time. While thematically interesting, it seems to be trying for too much sincerity in what is otherwise a very campy musical.
Don Stephenson
Don Stephenson, Caden Brauch and Company
The cast is generally a delight, with Caden Brauch playing a passably cool Marty McFly, Don Stephenson playing a wacky Doc Brown, and Zan Berube playing a bold and funny Lorraine Baines. The standout performance comes from Burke Swanson as George McFly. His athletic physical comedy keeps the audience entertained even if the rest of the scene is leaning toward boring.
Ethan Rogers, Caden Brauch, Burke Swanson and Company
Cartreze Tucker and Company
The other big source of entertainment is the fantastic illusions designed by Chris Fisher. Scenic design by Tim Hatley and lighting design by Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone certainly also contribute to the visual magic of this show. The iconic car turned time-machine, the DeLorean, is just as spectacular as you want it to be, and when it crashes onto the stage for the first time, you can’t help but burst into applause. This show executed one of the most successful uses of projections I’ve seen in live theatre (apart from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), giving the illusion that the car was speeding a roaring 88 miles, and eventually, flying through the air (video designer Finn Ross).
Don Stephenson and Caden Brauch
Caden Brauch and Burke Swanson
While the spectacle is something remarkable to behold, I’m of the opinion that if the script and music fall flat, the best production in the world can’t make up for it. That’s the case with Back to the Future, and personally, I’d rather make some popcorn at home and rewatch the old classic.
Burke Swanson, Ethan Rogers, Caden Brauch and Zan Berube
Caden Brauch and Company
photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Back to the Future: The Musical
national tour
presented by Broadway in Chicago
plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre until September 1, 2024
tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Back To The Future Musical
for more shows, visit Theatre in Chicago