CineShow presents
An Immersive Screening
BACK TO THE FUTURE Grimsby Central Hall
14 - 15 April 2023
There are some things that need to be done well or they should be left well alone. An immersive cinema experience featuring one of my favourite films of the 1980s is one such property. It HAS to be well-staged or I would be critical beyond belief in my private moments. Thankfully, producer Jamie Roberts and his team has very much "got it right" with this showing at Grimsby's magnificent Central Hall. From the moment you enter the queue to go in, you are advised to join the Senior class or the Freshman class on their journey with some preference given to the Senior Class who have all paid for the VIP experience. As you enter, you are greeted by cloyingly, over-zealous American highschoolers whose highlight of life in high school, is to be allowed to help organise the school's social. Their accents and attitude never slip as they play the part to the full, dolling out Sports Almanacs and locker keys for the Seniors.
The attention to detail is phenomenal. A box for confiscated items is there and the bald, menacing authoritarian teacher Mr Strickland scowls angrily at the audience entering, most of who have made considerable effort in dressing as either 1950s or 1980s characters, as he judges and weighs whether to exercise his authority upon them.
Entering the main hall, a faithfully recreated sign declares "Welcome to Hill Valley". Just as you are seeking to take in all that is presented before you, you are harrassed by a well-meaning collector urging you to help "Save the Clocktower" and this is followed up by meeting the actors portraying Marty McFly and Jennifer Parker who deliver in character explanations of what is happening in their fictional world, improvising with a clientele eager to interact as part of the night. From there, we were guided by Candy and Summer who urged us to vote for them in the upcoming talent contest as you were shown to your locker were you claim your own Sports Almanac - well... it is ostensibly a Sports Almanac but it hides a slightly seedy secret when opened.
This led into Cafe 80s, a dimly lit but incredibly well-decorated American diner, staffed by even more fluorescent teens eager to please. Everywhere you looked, the detail was stunning. From the choice of decor, posters on the walls and 80s games that were available for punters to play and drinks and hot dogs were the order of the day with bursts of neon and the sounds of the 1980s blaring out from the jukebox in the corner. It was like stepping back into a really tacky 1980s cafe bar - I remember them well. After mingling, and admiring the effort that many attendees had gone to, we met Doc Brown who had also greeted us in the street outside the hall, as he traversed the room.
Eventually it was time to leave and to enter the main hall to experience Hill Valley High School's 1985 talent contest. Marty and his band began by rocking out to Huey Lewis and the News' hit from the film, The Power of Love, only to be declared too darned loud and ushered offstage unceremoniously. Then came a dance group performing Maniac from Flashdance, showing way too much energy and enthusiasm as far as I was concerned. Then came the turn of Candy and Summer, our guides from earlier to offer a comedic turn performing hits of the 80s.
The winners were adjudged to be Marty's band but he was whisked away by is mentor Doc Brown, leaving the band to perform and impressive set of 80s covers with real dedication to getting it all right, much to the delight of the audience who threw themselves into role on the dance floor.
At the end of the 1980s segment, the audience was encouraged to make their way to the Roy Kemp Suite, transformed for the evening into the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance as seen in the film when Marty returns to 1955.
The room was a sensory delight, Just as with Cafe 80s, CineShow had worked their magic and created a dance so accurate, you could be forgiven for imagining you are in the film. Marvin Berry and the Moonlighters take to the stage and you are figuratively transorted through time.
The performer playing the thankless role of Marvin Berry was Kendrick SImon who was seriously impressive. Hs deep rich tones indicated a more soulful voice to be unveiled on some other stage than this, but he was a terrific performer. He has the makings of a Jackie Wilson, I would have loved to hear his rich delivery of a tune like Lonely Teardrops, but was more than capable of delivering full-bodied performances of rock 'n' roll screamers such as Tutti Frutti and Great Balls of Fire alongside hits like Earth Angel and Mr Sandman.
The audience was thoroughly pumped by this time and ceered as Marty's parents George and Loraine made their first appearances of the night. Marty joined the band with a classic cherry red Gibson and delivered a showstopping performance of Johnny B Goode before the scene ended with Marvin calling his cousin Chuck over a landline to listen to the "new" sound.
And then, it came time to ascend the stairs to the circle to take your seats for the main feature, albeit an enhanced version of the film as characters appeared in costume on stage to perform scenes from the film in front of the very screen the audience is watching. And it is done so well. The timing was impeccable, as are the moves and the lip-synching. It was so good to watch the scenes recreated before your very eyes. Nothing super clever, just really entertaining, well-delivered performances.
As George on screen and on stage drags Biff from the car where he is attempting to molest Lorraine, there was an audible cheer and a whoop from the circle. You really had to be there to realise just how powerfully they played it.
At film's end, the cast all returned to the stage to take a richly deserved bow and Doc and Marty drew the audience's attention to the efforts of Jamie Roberts calling for some toroughly deserved praise for all te effort that has gone into making this event. Grimsby has yet to fully wake up to what a fantastic opportunity it has, right on its doorstep, to enjoy high quality films served up as immersive events to remember.
The effort is exceptional and all the applause and praise so well-earned. CineShow porvides a sensory feast for the filmgoer that is capable of elevating the enjoyment levels and delivering a high quality experience. My advice is to catch a show or shows while you can because the area is blessed to enjoy such provision and the company deserves greater support still. We at Review Culture thoroughly recomend the experience. They just get it right, time after time. So do yourself a favour and get to Central all to see it before its too late.
Andy Evans 15 April 2023
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