Back To The Future previews- Page 5

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 12:09pm

tinmanic said: "Back to the Future is my all-time favorite movie. I'm also a veteran NYC theatergoer. What happens when these two interests collide...?

I saw it last night and it was not good. It seemed like a parody of a screen-to-stage musical. If the TV show "30 Rock" had an episode that included excerpts from an imaginary Back to the Future musical, this is what it would be like.

The best thing about it was Hugh Coles, who does a dead-on recreation of Crispin Glover's movie performance. On the other hand, his performance seemed mostly imitative and I would have liked to see him put more of his own spin on the role. I thought Casey Likes did a decent job as Marty, I guess.

It was also cool to see the car on stage.

The climatic scene near the end was really well done.

I did not like Roger Bart as Doc Brown at all. Mugging, overacting, awful. He made Doc seem like an idiot. And he used this raspy voice like Alex Brightman in Beetlejuice. There were a couple of times where he and Casey Likes volleyed the same lines back and forth to each other, for way too long. I guess that was supposed to be funny.

The music was unmemorable. The Act II opening number was a truly WTF moment.

Plot-change spoiler regarding the moment when Marty goes back in time:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

For some reason they changed "Doc gets shot and killed by terrorists" to "Doc suddenly gets plutonium poisoning and dies." It was a ridiculous, comical-in-a-bad-way moment. Instantaneous radiation poisoning and death? Really? Prompting Marty to hop in the car to drive to a hospital?

I wonder if they eliminated the terrorists to make it more child-friendly. But it's a show where incestuous romance is a main plot point, so that ship has kinda sailed...

 

I can't believe this thing won the Olivier. I need to wipe it from my memory so I can go back and just enjoy the movie trilogy again."

Thought that was an interesting change too. Definitely because they’re trying to be more politically correct. They think escaping from the Libyan terrorists doesn’t work in 2023. 

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 12:13pm

tinmanic said: "Back to the Future is my all-time favorite movie. I'm also a veteran NYC theatergoer. What happens when these two interests collide...?

I saw it last night and it was not good. It seemed like a parody of a screen-to-stage musical. If the TV show "30 Rock" had an episode that included excerpts from an imaginary Back to the Future musical, this is what it would be like.

The best thing about it was Hugh Coles, who does a dead-on recreation of Crispin Glover's movie performance. On the other hand, his performance seemed mostly imitative and I would have liked to see him put more of his own spin on the role. I thought Casey Likes did a decent job as Marty, I guess.

It was also cool to see the car on stage.

The climatic scene near the end was really well done.

I did not like Roger Bart as Doc Brown at all. Mugging, overacting, awful. He made Doc seem like an idiot. And he used this raspy voice like Alex Brightman in Beetlejuice. There were a couple of times where he and Casey Likes volleyed the same lines back and forth to each other, for way too long. I guess that was supposed to be funny.

The music was unmemorable. The Act II opening number was a truly WTF moment.

Plot-change spoiler regarding the moment when Marty goes back in time:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

For some reason they changed "Doc gets shot and killed by terrorists" to "Doc suddenly gets plutonium poisoning and dies." It was a ridiculous, comical-in-a-bad-way moment. Instantaneous radiation poisoning and death? Really? Prompting Marty to hop in the car to drive to a hospital?

I wonder if they eliminated the terrorists to make it more child-friendly. But it's a show where incestuous romance is a main plot point, so that ship has kinda sailed...

 

I can't believe this thing won the Olivier. I need to wipe it from my memory so I can go back and just enjoy the movie trilogy again."

I forgot about that plot change.  I’ve said it before after seeing it in London.  I wish I could use the car and go back in time and convince myself that it would be a waste of time and money to see this dreck. 

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 1:10pm

Interesting reviews! What do you think critics will say on opening night? 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 1:15pm

pablitonizer said: "Interesting reviews! What do you think critics will say on opening night?"

I’m expecting mixed. Praise for Hugh, Casey and the effects, but mixed to negative for everything else.

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 1:43pm

DramaTeach said: "pablitonizer said: "Interesting reviews! What do you think critics will say on opening night?"

I’m expecting mixed. Praise for Hugh, Casey and the effects, but mixed to negative for everything else."

Hugh was the best thing in the London production.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 2:45pm

I think this is a show where the critical response will not matter.

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 2:50pm

Not in any capacity. 

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 3:41pm

Idk. If you have to cough up $200+ and it gets bad reviews…Addams Family anyone?

[Skip23]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 4:07pm

for such a visual show - don’t sit on the far sides of the mezz. You’ll miss half the show. Not cool. They are actually partial view. Selling for full price!!  

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 12:15am

Anybody know what rush has been like? Thinking of going tomorrow! 

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 12:39am

This is yet another 'you'll leave humming the set' kind of show.

It's a very expensive theme park production.  I saw the OLC and still can't remember ONE song.

That said, the tourists and nostalgists are going to shovel this in, over and over.  They don't care about great music in a musical.  They want to hear the Huey Lewis song.

[Popular]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 3:19am

Huge fan of the movie (trilogy) & really hoping to get a chance to see the show towards the end of the year. 

Just an observation that, unless I missed something, I have not read one comment about the Biff character. Is it written pretty true to the movie? 

[tinmanic]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 1:02pm

Popular said: "Huge fan of the movie (trilogy) & really hoping to get a chance to see the show towards the end of the year.

Just an observation that, unless I missed something, I have not read one comment about the Biff character. Is it written pretty true to the movie?"

Yes - and the actor playing him was decent. He has one song (with his henchmen) which is unmemorable like the rest.

 

[Shubert Alley Cat]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 1:19pm

Saw it last night.  Had a really fun time.  This was my yext to my friend as I left the show:

Back to the Future … well the actual musical elements are pretty lame.  BUT the stage tech might be the most incredible I have ever seen.  What happens with the car in the finale is unreal.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 2:19pm

Looking to see it in the next couple of weeks. Availability is fairly decent still, are there any discount codes still out there?

[bk]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 3:45pm

jkcohen626 said: "bk said: "Is this now a thing, opening the house at 7:45? They do that regularly in community theater and now regional houses and I find it completely obnoxious."

This was afirst preview.This is what happens atfirst previews.If you don't like it, see the show after it opens."

Hey, snark person, I asked a simple question - do they open the house for ANY B'way show at 7:45 now. I haven't seen this or any other show because - I'm in Los Angeles, where it is becoming the norm to do so, hence the question. Just say it was the first preview and that it isn't the norm and save the snark for someone else. Thank you.

[bk]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 3:54pm

R. GreenFinch said: ""Is this now a thing, opening the house at 7:45? They do that regularly in community theater and now regional houses and I find it completely obnoxious."

Yes, because they usually have things to run or fix before then. These are real people working to keep things safe.

I'm surprised you're dragging community and regional theaters in particular, who are usually underfunded and dealing with the resources they have. Every second counts, including the half hour you apparently want to stare at the empty stage to feel comfortable.

Go to the movies instead if you want that kind of precise schedule."

Who ARE you people? Doors open at half-hour is how it was forever. It may well be how it is on B'way now, which is why I asked the question. As people pointed out, this was a first preview. Half hour enables people to find their seats, read their programs, etc. Fifteen minutes is ridiculous anywhere, unless there's a technical issue, but it's what I've been seeing here in Los Angeles, even at larger theaters. You want to get into a sarcasm fest, keep it up. You'll lose, but it'll be fun.

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 3:55pm

I love when this board is like, "This show is prefab dog ass, but the tourists will love it!"

Tourists have taste and intelligence, too, you know.  

[bk]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 3:59pm

pagereynolds said: "R. GreenFinch said: ""Is this now a thing, opening the house at 7:45? They do that regularly in community theater and now regional houses and I find it completely obnoxious."

Yes, because they usually have things to run or fix before then. These are real people working to keep things safe.

I'm surprised you're dragging community and regional theaters in particular, who are usually underfunded and dealing with the resources they have. Every second counts, including the half hour you apparently want to stare at the empty stage to feel comfortable.

Go to the movies instead if you want that kind of precise schedule."

You do realize it takes more than 15 minutes to load a huge theatre with people, seat them, allow them to use the restroom, etc, right?"

Apparently they don't realize that - it's more fun for them to make an obnoxious response on a message board. Add to the obvious things you mention, sitting and reading the program. 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 5:05pm

Love when the folks who regularly dish out bitchiness here can’t take even a drop of it in return. 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 5:40pm

Shubert Alley Cat said: "Saw it last night. Had a really fun time. This was my yext to my friend as I left the show:

Back to the Future … well the actual musical elements are pretty lame. BUT the stage tech might be the most incredible I have ever seen. What happens with the car in the finale is unreal."


Saw it in London last month, and I had similar thoughts. I wrote this right after:

 

“What an insane production. 

Is the music good? Not really. Is it bad? I wouldn’t say that either. It’s corny, which sort of fit the show for me. 

Regardless the performances were great, really strong cast, and the physical production was stunning. The car?!?! Still gobsmacked by the finale.”

 

I’ve seen a lot of shows, I have a place in my heart for a Hadestown, and for a Back to the Future. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 5:43pm

I saw today’s matinee. The show is absolutely theme park entertainment, but honestly, I had a really great time! It’s leagues better than some of the other recent screen to stage adaptations we’ve seen recently (Pretty Woman, Tootsie, Mrs. Doubtfire, etcetera).

I loved both Casey Likes and Roger Bart. Both are extremely likable and are giving super solid performances. The score is far from great, but it’s passable enough. The true star of the show is the design. The technical elements are absolutely spectacular.

Is the show Sondheim or Shakespeare? Of course not. But I don’t think it’s trying to be... It’s pure escapism. For two and a half hours, I got to just turn my brain off and be wildly entertained. Maybe it’s just what I needed today after a rough few weeks in my personal life, but all in all, this is just a really fun show in my book.

The theatre was packed. The audience was surprisingly very well behaved. The line for the merchandise store was down the block after the show. I think this one is going to essentially be critic proof and have a decent run.

[Timon3]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 5:55pm

Mmmmm saw this yesterday and it reminds me of Rocky that played the same theatre, all visual but poor book and score with weak acting to boot.

i cannot see BTTF fairing any better.

 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 6:36pm

Timon3 said: "Mmmmm saw this yesterday and it reminds me of Rocky that played the same theatre, all visual but poor book and score with weak acting to boot.

i cannot see BTTF fairing any better.

"
 

Really? I actually see it fairing far better. The IP itself has a lot more going for it. 

 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 11:05pm

"Tourists have taste and intelligence, too, you know.  "

Too many of the "Broadway Legends" seem to have such utter contempt for tourists that come to NYC to see some shows. It seems like they believe they are a bunch of fools who will like almost anything. So many posts say things like a show sucks but the tourists will love it. 

Updated On: 7/8/23 at 11:05 PM