Back To The Future: The Musical bursts on to the Lyric Theatre stage with all the flash one would expect, featuring time-travelling DeLoreans, ‘80s and ‘50s nostalgia, and theatrical spectacle.
Though it is initially flat, its spectacular design and post-interval performances are entertaining, engaging, and capture the spirit of the 1985 classic.
The plot remains faithful to the film. In 1985, Marty McFly (Axel Duffy), a lovable skateboarding teenager, is accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric Doc Brown (Roger Bart). Stranded in the past, he must find a way to return to the future while ensuring his teenage parents fall in love before he disappears from existence.
Roger is impressive as Doc Brown. He brings fun and eccentricity to the character, really playing up the wild mad scientist role while adding his own tenderness and heart. His solo ’21st Century’ is a comedic highlight, and his chemistry with Duffy feels genuine and joyful.
Axel is a capable McFly. His attempts to capture Michael J. Fox’s charm don’t fully pay off, but when he brings his own self to the role, he really makes the audience believe in Marty’s impulsiveness, confusion, and humour. This is particularly in numbers like ‘Pretty Baby’ and ‘Put Your Mind To It’. But it’s the supporting cast who really shine. Ashleigh Rubenach brings sharp comic timing to Lorraine Baines, Marty’s mother. Ethan Jones as George McFly is a delightfully dorky character who the audience really loves by the show’s end. Thomas McGuane plays up Biff Tannen’s bully persona and idiocy while providing broad physical comedy. And it’s Javon King as Goldie Wilson who steals the show. He is the most electric performer behind Roger, and his self-confident number ‘Gotta Start Somewhere’ features gleaming costumes and stunning vocals. It is the musical’s unmissable showstopper.
The show is visually dazzling. The DeLorean delivers – a fully functional, tech-laden set piece that glides, lights up, and even appears to take flight. Tim Hatley’s design is immersive, morphing seamlessly between the town of Hill Valley, Doc’s lab, and 1955 suburbia. Chris Fisher’s illusions and Finn Ross’s videos bring the time-travel sequences to life with cinematic flair, while the bright lighting (Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone) and booming sound design (Gareth Owen) ramp up the tension and excitement.
Director John Rando keeps things moving but rarely surprises. The result is a slick, professional production that ultimately plays it safe – content to recreate the film rather than reinvent it. Choreography by Chris Bailey adds kinetic energy but could be more dynamic. The score is also a layered affair. There are songs from the movie (‘The Power of Love’, ‘Johnny B. Goode’, ‘Back in Time’) along with new numbers meant to fill out character motivations, elaborate storytelling, or amplify the emotional beats. For fans of the film, hearing the familiar hits is a treat. For musical theatre fans, there’s enough new material to make it more than just a greatest hits tribute. But not every new song lands. Some of the songs meant to develop characters in the first act feel padded. At those points, it’s clear the show is trying to build more emotional depth, which sometimes feels straining.
Additionally, the visual spectacle can outshine more subtle character moments. During big musical numbers or time‐travel scenes, the energy is electric. But in quieter moments the musical is monotonous. The sheer size of the production means the ‘human’ moments are sometimes overwhelmed by light, sound, and effects.
Nevertheless, Back To The Future: The Musical at the Lyric is a triumph in many ways. It delivers on spectacle, has heart, and respects its source material. It’s not flawless, but achieves what it sets out to do. If you love the movie, or big theatrical experiences, this is the kind of blockbuster theatre you’d hope to see: joyful, nostalgic, and by its end, a thoroughly entertaining ride.
This review first appeared on Scenestr. A link is here.
