Biff to the Future at Wilton’s Music Hall

Have you ever wondered about a side character’s off-screen experiences in a major Hollywood franchise? Joseph Maudsley has, and he’s here to tell you that Biff, Back to the Future‘s infamous bully, has a lot more to him than meets the eye. And that Marty guy? He’s actually not all that great.

Biff to the Future takes the audience through what Biff could have been thinking as Doc and Marty raced through time, picking up on fan theories, drawing on neglected characters and making fun of the distinctly 1980s source material.

Occasionally, the piece riffs too much on familiar observations about the franchise. Why are Doc and Marty friends? Isn’t it weird that Marty tries to seduce his own mother? Why would they say that a white man wrote Johnny B Goode? Perfectly valid questions, yes, but nothing that John Mulaney didn’t joke about a decade ago.

Where Biff to the Future shines is when it really leans into its stupidly silly side. Maudsley’s generous use of talcum powder on books and papers, accompanied by the clarifying comment, “old”, stays funny each time it comes up. His ridiculous stick-on moustache, and the many, many costume changes he zooms through over the 70-minute run: excellent, and frequently inventive. The very impressive speed-recitation of scientific mumbo jumbo that makes up much of the films’ plots: pitch-perfect. Even better is when Maudsley breaks slightly, laughing at the whole endeavour. Some parts go on a little too long, but it’s clear that the majority have been well-tested.

This is a show with a lot of audience participation, always a risky choice. Several audience members are stand-in Martys during the show, and Maudsley frequently asks questions to spectators. Luckily, the risk pays off. Maudsley connects with the crowd from the very start, and his enthusiasm is infectious. It’s easy to buy into the spectacle of it all.

Design-wise, lighting, sound and set are unexpectedly intricate. Maudsley juggles many props over the course of the night, and comic audio cues are always perfectly on beat.

Slightly weaker are the attempts to bring a moral message to proceedings, emphasising the importance of trying your best and accepting not being perfect. These moments feel like they come from a different show, and become too saccharine for the otherwise tongue-in-cheek tone.

Biff to the Future is a labour of love from someone who adores the franchise, but who can also poke fun at it. Part stand-up set, part fan discussion forum, this is a treat for anyone with even a vague understanding of the trilogy it parodies.