PPAC ‘Back to the Future’ Delivers Exciting Effects

PROVIDENCE, RI — I’ll give “Back to the Future: The Musical” this: the sound designers and visual effects wizards have delivered plenty of bangs for the buck.

And the infamous time-traveling DeLorean with those funky doors which fold up looked great on the stage of Providence Performing Arts Center Tuesday.

When the car first makes it appearance, there was a collective roar of excitement from the audience.

This adaptation sticks closely to the plot of the classic 1985 motion picture, with Lucas Hallauer doing his best to recreate the befuddlement of Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly.

Marty ends up traveling back in time to 1955 and is tasked with setting his parents up on a date, where they have to kiss. If they don’t, Marty will never be born. 

Of course, he also has to get ‘back to the future’ and to do that, he enlists the help of his friend, eccentric inventor Doc Brown (David Josefsberg).

Nerdy George McFly (Mike Bindeman) is constantly bullied by the boorish Biff (Nathaniel Hackmann).

Marty’s mother Lorraine (Zan Berube) isn’t much interested in George. She meets Marty after he is injured and taken in by her parents. To Marty’s horror, his own mother tries to seduce him. 

“Back to the Future” has some big names behind the scenes. Bob Gale, who co-wrote the screenplay, wrote the book.

The music was composed by Alan Silvestri and lyricist Glen Ballard. 

“It Works”, sang by Doc Brown, was rousing, and “Gotta Start Somewhere”, featuring a powerhouse vocal by Cartreze Tucker (Goldie Wilson, the future Mayor of Hill Valley) were highlights, as was Marty’s rendition of “Johnny B. Goode” at the big high school dance.

Marty also sings “The Power of Love,” which was a hit song by Huey Lewis.

Josefsberg and Hallauer exhibited an engaging rapport in their scenes together. When Doc is felled by radiation poisoning, Marty does what he can to save his friend’s life. It’s the most touching part of the show.

The finale features lots of sound and fury, as lightning streaks across the skies of Hill Valley and the rumble of the DeLorean’s engine sets up Marty’s journey ahead in time.

The screen projections and the lighting are dynamic and convincing as Doc scales the town’s historic clock tower. The DeLorean then flies over the stage. It’s an incredible effect and the technical crew deserves admiration for pulling it off.

Overall, “Back to the Future” will please fans of the movie. There are lots of laughs, some impressive sets and costumes, and the DeLorean. In this show, the car is the star.

Back to the Future runs through June 15. Providence Performing Arts Center. Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission. Providence Performing Arts Center. 220 Weybosset St., Providence. For tickets, visit ppacri.org.