**1/2 Taking a film that is a non-musical, and converting it into a stage musical, is not always effective. In fact, many never truly get the response that the original film had. I was fairly excited to see what Broadway In Chicago would be presenting on the stage at The Cadillac Palace theatre tonight, as the road company opened the Chicago production. They did have a De Lorean in front of the theatre , and they have a special one for the play itself. If you loved the movie, you might find some of the special effects to be amazing, but the actual story will not feel quite the same. The book is by Bob Gale who with Robert Zemeckis wrote the film and the music and lyrics are by Alan Silvestri & Glen Ballard.

I am pretty sure that everyone knows the story. It is 1985 and Marty McFly ( deftly played by Caden Brauch) is having a tough time dealing with his family; his mother Lorraine ( Zan Berube) and his siblings (Fisher Lane Stewart and Laura Sky Herman) and his father, George ( well played by Burke Swanson). He is afraid that unless he can alter how his family lives, he is doomed to end up just like them. If only he could go back in time and alter events to change the current lives of the McFly family.

There is a mad scientist in town. One mad scientist Emmet “Doc” Brown, who has converted a De Lorean into a time machine. “Doc” is played by Don Stephenson, ( if you recall, in the film this role was played by the incredible Christopher Lloyd, and there is no way anyone can ever replace him in this role). While Stephenson is  a solid performer, it appears that he is trying to imitate Lloyd rather than develop “Doc” in his own way.

Directed by John Rando with some very special choreography by Chris Bailey on a powerful set (Tim Hatley) and amazing illusions ( Chris Fisher) you will find that the second act is far superior to the first as that is where the story truly takes meaning. You see they go back some 30 years to November 5th, 1955 ( this was in fact ,my actual Bar Mitzvah date) as that was the date that “Doc” got the idea to develop a time machine. That is also the date that a major lightning storm will hit the town bell tower allowing the time machine to make the trip back to 1985. Again, the special effects are mind-boggling and you will see things on a stage that you would never expect to see.

Marty ends up bringing his parents together before he comes back to 1985 and in doing so changes how his dad grows up, making changes that effect the lives of every one in the McFly family, so of course, we have the happiest of endings!

I did ask some much younger audience members how they liked the show ( at intermission) and they both thought it was as good as the film ( which they have seen 4 times). There mom said she enjoyed it but felt it was lacking something. I felt that the show moved along better when the second act started and despite a tech problem ( they know how to handle those, never breaking the “wall”) we all had a great time. Be prepared for some excitement after they take their bows- there is some great stuff!

 

” Back To The Future: The Musical” will continue thru – Sep 1st with performances as follows: