Back to the Future the Musical - Opera House MCR / Adelphi

[alece10]

Some advice from my friends in the north please.
Coming up to see West side story and staying overnight. Then thought why not do a Saturday matinee before heading back to the smoke.
So think I'll go see this.
Anyway looking at stalls cos if my gammy leg and there are aisle seats from row w back for £50.
Any good? Don't really want to pay more as its o e of those shows I'm not that bothered about but seems a shame to miss the opportunity whilst there.
Can't find anything on at hope mill on that day otherwise I would have liked to visit that theatre.

[BurlyBeaR]

I dont remember ever sitting that far back to be honest. Furthest I’ve been is M or N which are great. In W you’ll lose the top of the stage because of the overhang for sure.
Stalls Row H on the side blocks have nothing in front, the extreme ends of H are second price (blue) and have unobstructed views.

Have you checked what’s on at the Palace and Lowry?

[alece10]

Jan 8, 2020 8:27:41 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

I dont remember ever sitting that far back to be honest. Furthest I’ve been is M or N which are great. In W you’ll lose the top of the stage because of the overhang for sure.
Stalls Row H on the side blocks have nothing in front, the extreme ends of H are second price (blue) and have unobstructed views.

Have you checked what’s on at the Palace and Lowry?

Thanks for the advice I'll check the seating plan again. Forgot about Palace and Lowry so will check that also

[TallPaul]

My booked seat for & Juliet (in Manchester) was on Row U. Although not terrible, the view is rather distant, and you will miss perhaps the top third of the proscenium. Of course we don't know yet, but in a musical called Back to the Future, there could be a flying car! I certainly don't think £50 is good value.

Thankfully, the ushers actively encouraged those of us sitting at the back to move forwards, so I was straight out of the blocks and relocated myself to a much, much better aisle seat on Row N.

In London, TheatreMonkey would obviously be the first port of call, but SeatPlan now cover ATG theatres out in the 'provinces', and although there aren't currently a huge number of photos for the Opera House, they may be of some help in reaching a decision.

[stevej678]

I much prefer the circle to the stalls at the Opera House - it's probably my favourite vantage point of any theatre. From the front few rows in particular, it feels very close to the stage from the circle and even to the sides offers a good view. There's a steep rake and very decent legroom up there too, though the front row is a little tighter.

[undeuxtrois]

There isn't really a good rake in the stalls. Ive sat row M and I was still peering over people's heads at times, although this shouldn't be an issue if you're over 5"7. The leg room was decent.

[alece10]

Thanks for all the advice. Sounds like I need to be further forward in the stalls or front of dress circle. And have a feeling there will be things happening higher up so don't want to miss the top of the stage. Will ponder over best seats now.
Just booked Stalls row H at the side which seems to be the centre aisle so tons of legroom for me. 
My trip to West Side Story is now turning out to be an expensive but busy weekend, but hey! we only live once and as my mother used to say "you cant take it with you"

[BurlyBeaR]

Stalls H is my row of choice. There’s really not much discernible difference between the preemies and second price on those side blocks but sshhh! Don’t tell people this stuff!

I’m guessing that your overnight to manc will be considerably cheaper than when we come down to that London!

Enjoy 🙂

[danb]

Intrigued to know where this will end up. I wonder if they’re looking for a limited season at the Coliseum after ‘Hairspray’ or do they have have something else going in? I presume it will be all about scale for the required effects even if it’s just a giant screen. Anyone know?

[Jon]

Jan 8, 2020 20:29:08 GMT danb said:

Intrigued to know where this will end up. I wonder if they’re looking for a limited season at the Coliseum after ‘Hairspray’ or do they have have something else going in? I presume it will be all about scale for the required effects even if it’s just a giant screen. Anyone know?

It’s unlikely to be the Coliseum as ENO have their 2020/21 season

[ptwest]

I’m actually wondering how many effects there are going to be. Obviously there is the car, but the majority of the 1950s section is pretty straight forward up until the sequence in the courthouse. It’s part two which is very effects-heavy

[ncbears]

The show's twitter posted a clip of "It Works" in rehearsal.  Does not seem like "It Works" yet... Your views may differ (and of course allowances for rehearsal, sound recording capability - but then the show itself put this out to entice ticket purchases)It Works ... or does it?

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2020 18:23:18 GMT ncbears said:

The show's twitter posted a clip of "It Works" in rehearsal.  Does not seem like "It Works" yet... Your views may differ (and of course allowances for rehearsal, sound recording capability - but then the show itself put this out to entice ticket purchases)It Works ... or does it?

Oh dear lord, that looks horrible. Plus Doc looks way too young and Marty way too old.

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2020 18:23:18 GMT ncbears said:

The show's twitter posted a clip of "It Works" in rehearsal.  Does not seem like "It Works" yet... Your views may differ (and of course allowances for rehearsal, sound recording capability - but then the show itself put this out to entice ticket purchases)It Works ... or does it?

Hmmm. Not sure this bloke's vocals particularly work!

I say just let Olly Dobson sing the lot. 

When they released his version of Power Of Love I really thought it was fantastic and got very excited about this show. And indeed him.

But every song they have released since has been so unexciting. Not awful but just deeply unremarkable and generic. Like bits of Ghost, Pretty Woman, Tootsie, every film adaptation etc etc. 

[HereForTheatre]

In the context of the show and in costume and with full set i'm sure it will seem better but my main issue is the dancers. Why are there dancers randomly doing a routine with doc when his invention works? Is this going to be how the show is? Just turning moments from the film into a full broadway number with a random ensemble? I just don't get that.

[Seriously]

The song itself sounds rather drab, the backing vocals pointless, and Marty seems to have nothing to do other than walk around. The choreography is very "cruise ship", and I've no idea why there are only female dancers. I hope this isn't indicative of the rest of the show.

Roger Bart does seem to be playing him very young.

[carriesparkle]

But that song will be sung by Doc as a youngish man, not as an old man, so that makes sense...that's the only thing that makes sense to me about that song and staging, mind...

[Seriously]

Feb 7, 2020 8:32:16 GMT carriesparkle said:

But that song will be sung by Doc as a youngish man, not as an old man, so that makes sense...that's the only thing that makes sense to me about that song and staging, mind...

Isn't this the moment in the show where Doc Brown is realising his invention "works"?  I don't remember Doc being young at that moment in the film.

[HereForTheatre]

Roger Bart is older than Christopher Lloyd was at the time the movie came out...by a good 10 years.

[Seriously]

Feb 7, 2020 12:34:10 GMT HereForTheatre said:

Roger Bart is older than Christopher Lloyd was at the time the movie came out...by a good 10 years.

But Christopher Lloyd played it older.  They even turned his hair white as they wanted him to look like Einstein. 

[Deleted]

Despite being an 80s kid, I have never seen the film!
Going in blind, which I think might be the best thing.

Odd no announcement for London.
Ghost, Bat, &Juliet etc all had London booking open when they did "Manchester Gets It First."
Sure there were other MGIF shows though I can't currently recall....

If BTTF does get good word of mouth and momentum, will be lost by time makes it to The Smoke. 
Maybe lack of available theatres.
Maybe they are viewing Manchester as a 'tryout' and don't think the script/staging is quite finalised.

Interestingly &Juliet's changes really were minimal. 
Bat was also pretty much fixed, other than the loss of Bad Girls Go Everywhere early in the Manc run.
Didn't see the original Ghost in Manc so dunno how much that changed. 

[HereForTheatre]

Feb 7, 2020 12:49:26 GMT Seriously said:

Feb 7, 2020 12:34:10 GMT HereForTheatre said:

Roger Bart is older than Christopher Lloyd was at the time the movie came out...by a good 10 years.

But Christopher Lloyd played it older.  They even turned his hair white as they wanted him to look like Einstein. 

Which is what they are going to do with Roger. He wasn't in costume or make up. The images of him in the wig and stuff has already been on twitter and stuff.

[fluxcapacitor]

Feb 7, 2020 12:26:57 GMT Seriously said:

Feb 7, 2020 8:32:16 GMT carriesparkle said:

But that song will be sung by Doc as a youngish man, not as an old man, so that makes sense...that's the only thing that makes sense to me about that song and staging, mind...

Isn't this the moment in the show where Doc Brown is realising his invention "works"?  I don't remember Doc being young at that moment in the film.

Then you remember incorrectly! The whole scene where Doc shouts “It works! It works! I finally invent something that works!” Takes place in 1955, where Young Doc sees the time machine (and Marty shows him the Flux Capacitor) for the first time and realises that one day he will invent something that works. So it’s true to the source material that he’s played young at this point.

[Seriously]

Feb 7, 2020 13:59:26 GMT fluxcapacitor said:

Feb 7, 2020 12:26:57 GMT Seriously said:

Isn't this the moment in the show where Doc Brown is realising his invention "works"?  I don't remember Doc being young at that moment in the film.

Then you remember incorrectly! The whole scene where Doc shouts “It works! It works! I finally invent something that works!” Takes place in 1955, where Young Doc sees the time machine (and Marty shows him the Flux Capacitor) for the first time and realises that one day he will invent something that works. So it’s true to the source material that he’s played young at this point.

Ah, now I get it.  I stand corrected.

Although not about the backing vocals, choreography, song, and basically everything else!

[Deleted]

Feb 7, 2020 12:51:54 GMT @sharpe12 said:

Interestingly &Juliet's changes really were minimal. 
Bat was also pretty much fixed, other than the loss of Bad Girls Go Everywhere early in the Manc run.
Didn't see the original Ghost in Manc so dunno how much that changed. 

As I recall Bat pretty much scrapped their costumes in Manchester and had entirely new designs for the Coliseum. They also added the exploding bike. But yes, in terms of changes to the actual show it was fairly minimal.


I think in BTTF's case, it really comes down to theatre availability.