Back To The Future - Adelphi Theatre

I had waited so long to see this show and it did not disappoint.  The Adelphi theatre, London has turned into 1955 Hill Valley and I was here for it.  After all, I want to save the clock tower.

I once had a proposal of marriage at a comedy show for knowing that the DeLorean goes 88mph.  I have always considered myself a geek but just in disguise.  I love sci-fi, fantasy and of course, anything with time travel.

Back To The Future is a special film to me.  The first time I saw it in the cinema, I was a teenager, living in a bedsit and went boxing day as I had nothing else to do.  Loved it so much I went again.  I have two versions of the DVD box set and both my children grew up on it.  So, I was so excited to book tickets to see this show, which won the Olivier award in 2022 for best new musical.

Sadly, I could not use the tickets on 6 March as that was the day my mum passed away.  I called the box office and explained and they very kindly rearranged.  I was looking forward to it for the beginning of June, but my plans were scuppered again when I fell and broke my shoulder.  I called the box office and they again, very kindly rearranged for me to see it in September.  I needed an aisle seat as my shoulder is still not completely healed.  But third time lucky it was.

I walked into the theatre and it was just like Hill Valley.  All the signs look 1950’s.  There is a great selection of merchandise to buy.  Who doesn’t want a ‘where we’re going we don’t need roads’ fridge magnet or a save the clocktower tote bag – yes I bought both!  But my top tip is go down to the bar downstairs on the right.  There you will find the Hill Valley sign – a selfie moment if ever there was one.  There are also postcards and a post-box so you can post a message into the future.  Its free and really a genius marketing idea.  In the corridor by the toilets there are cool framed posters relating to the show.  You are never in any doubt of where you are.

The auditorium is cool with tron like electrical effects going across some of the boxes to the stage.  But we are here to see Marty and Doc and that is exactly what I wanted.  I loved the audience.  Every time there was a famous line or a well-known scene they were cheering and clapping like they had won the lottery.  This was a matinee performance so I was really impressed.

Now as I have said, I love this film.  I am so glad they did keep the important bits such as Marty blowing up the speaker, the enchantment under the sea dance where he plays Johnny B. Goode and that classic line that is on my fridge magnet.  There are a few changes that make sense when you move it to a stage.  Instead of people after doc for stealing plutonium, they change it so that he is killed by plutonium.  You understand and accept these small changes.  There are a lot of songs and most of them are relevant to the story but I did feel one or two could be cut as they didn’t add anything.  But the car scenes are phenomenal.  I almost cried seeing it light up and fly.  The cast are great and Brian Conley is currently playing Doc.  Brian and I seem to have a bit of history.  I have reviewed him before, I was an audience member for Buy It Now and a couple of panto’s ago he kissed my elbow (you had to be there) – I am also reviewing him in panto this year.  I booked the tickets before I even knew Brian was going to play doc so it was meant to be.  His performance was fabulous.  He fits easily into a mad professor role and I liked his American accent.  The important element in the role is that you love Doc and he does that with ease.  What an iconic role for him to play.  So pleased and proud for him.  In the matinee performance we had the alternate Marty who was Oliver Halford.  He did seem a bit nervous for the first few numbers but soon settled down into the role and became the Marty we know and love with the exception that his hair wasn’t right and I know it’s a small thing but it did annoy me.  My favourite performances were from C J Borger as Goldie Wilson, especially singing Gotta Start Somewhere.  Also really enjoyed Maddie Grace Jepson as Lorraine and especially her bedroom scene with Calvin and his purple underwear.  She was perfection.  Orlando Gibbs plays George McFly and he has absolutely nailed this role down to the awful laugh, the geeky way he has about him and how he gets the audience to feel for him. Bravo.

Everyone gets up for Back In Time, but I also wish the cast would encourage us to get up for The Power Of Love. Anyway, I absolutely loved it.  There are some shows that don’t tour and I can see that if this did we may lose a lot of the special elements of going to see it in its home theatre.  So go and see it for yourself and then make up your mind on if you agree with me.