This brilliantly choreographed production is easy to like
A spoof about a Hollywood classic is always good to see – mainly because you know it will be upsetting the bigwigs in L.A. So a show about Back to the Future, one of the highest-grossing films of all time, is one I want to see, writes Michael Holland.
This one-man show, written and performed by Joseph Maudsley, has already collected good reviews on this tour and will pick up another one right now.
Initially, it’s like watching an X Factor audition that makes Simon Cowell roll his eyes, shake his head and look to his panel with a ‘not-another-one’ look. But when the TV audience show their love for the geek doing crazy things on the stage, an atmosphere of euphoria builds until the crowd are chanting ‘Press the button, press the button’, until one of the celebs hits the Golden Button and sends the auditionee straight through to the final. But this production is much more than that.
Biff to the Future is the story from the POV of the film’s bully, Biff Tannen. The Wilton’s audience are already onside. They know the film, know the characters, and have a good idea of the complex storyline that was played out over the three films in the series. So when Joseph dons a pair of glasses, changes his voice and mannerisms, we can see it is Marty McFly’s nerdy father. A white wig turns him into Doc Brown, a red puffer jacket and he becomes Marty McFly himself. The performer becomes just about every man, woman, and child – including a girl who only spoke 13 words – in that iconic trinity of movies!
You soon become aware that Maudsley is a real fan of BTTF. This is his paean to the films that were the backing track to his formative years, so he has made this show as faultless as he can. His performance is perfectly in sync with the sound effects (Jac Cooper), and there are many; in fact, they are just as much a part of the whole as he is. And that goes for the lights, explosions, smoke and myriad other visual gags, props and effects.
But I don’t think this could be a stand-alone show; you have to have seen the films to get the gags and outfits and in-jokes. Without that pre-knowledge, this would be 70 minutes of weird nonsense.
There is, of course, a narrative arc, but it is just as complex as the movies were. The enjoyment comes from everything else, just as it did back then. Watching Joseph turn from Biff in 1955 to Biff in 2015 is a sight for confused eyes. It would be madness to try and keep up with the mayhem of time travel when there are laughs aplenty to be had watching Biff recount his version of events to make himself look better than Hollywood did.
And it is Daniel Clarkson directing this brilliantly choreographed production to thank for much of the genius to be found in Biff to the Future.
It’s silly, it’s a lot of fun, it’s easy to like.
Wilton’s Music Hall until 25th April.
Booking and full details: https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/biff-to-the-future/
