by Leo Morgenstern. @morgensternmlb.
NEW YORK, NY – At this evening’s performance of Back to the Future The Musical, the role of Doc Brown, usually performed by Roger Bart, will be completely hidden from view by the teenager in front of you leaning all the way forward in his seat.
“Roger Bart has breathed new life into the role of Doc Brown,” says Marcia Goldwood, manager of the Winter Garden Theatre, who was able to see him perform from the back of the house. “But tonight, you’ll miss his performance entirely because of 15-year old Brayden Matthews. His phone is on, his shoes are off, and he’s already eating a bag of Takis.”
Prepare to be mesmerized as you hear other audience members react to the spellbinding special effects! Of course, you won’t be able to see the flying car yourself, but you’ll know just how incredible it is from the gasps of pure wonder all around you.
Perhaps you can even sneak a peek when Brayden finally takes off his bucket hat – never mind, he’s just putting on a second, even bigger hat.
“1.21 gigawatts! 1.21 gigawatts!” says a voice, presumably Tony Award-winning actor Roger Bart in character as Doc Emmett Brown, although you’ll never know for sure. “Great Scott!”
The musical features a whimsical score by Alan Silvestri, composer of the original Back to the Future trilogy - but at this performance, all the best songs have been interrupted by Brayden’s Apple Watch chiming at random intervals.
“Oh, my b. Sorry fam, I’ll turn it off,” says Brayden to no one in particular, as he pulls out a box of leftovers from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. “You don’t mind if I rip a Juul, do you?”
The show ends with a rousing rendition of “Back in Time,” which the company performs while Brayden’s entire family gets up and starts putting on their coats. Maybe if they leave quickly enough, you’ll be able to – scratch that, they’re taking a selfie.