The Time Machine
13th February 2024
If the subject of time travel fascinates you (or more likely, bewilders you but intrigues you all the same!), the chances are you’ve read H.G. Wells’ classic novel ‘The Time Machine. Staggeringly nearly 130 years old, the story is one of the building-blocks of the science fiction genre, and became the inspiration for countless tales of people travelling through the realms of time and all of the problems, paradoxes and pitfalls that the premise involves. Writers Steven Canny and John Nicholson saw not only the comedic potential of bringing Wells’ story to the stage, but also in framing it with a “show-within-a-show” fourth-wall-breaking parody, and so their production was born. First seen last year (both on stage and via online streaming), the comedy is enjoying a larger UK tour until April this year, and it plays this week at Cambridge Arts Theatre.
Three actors (Amy Revelle, Michael Dylan and George Kemp) are attempting to put on a production of ‘The Important Of Being Earnest’, much to the annoyance of George, who would much prefer to do ‘The Time Machine’ instead, mainly because George is Well’s great-great-grandson and has been left a collection of artefacts by the great man himself. George believes Wells’ novel to be based on fact rather than fantastical fiction, and hopes that putting on the show will convince his castmates (and the audience) that the premise was all actually true. When a life-threatening injury hits one of the cast in the middle of the show, the actors frantically try and utilise the scientific facts in Wells’ in an attempt to time-travel themselves and prevent disaster.
‘The Time Machine’ is an irreverent madcap blend of science fiction, physics and comedy, and fans of any of these elements will find a lot to enjoy. Purists expecting a faithful adaptation of the original story won’t find it here, but instead director Orla O’Loughlin delivers a fast-paced and funny spoof that is hugely entertaining. It does include the scientific side of things but doesn’t get bogged down by it, and in truth it doesn’t matter if you really understand the technical elements of what’s going on (or that you perhaps haven’t read the novel either), you’ll still get swept up in the madness. There are definitely shades of Mischief Theatre to be found (no bad thing at all), and anyone who enjoyed ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ will be similarly entertained. The dialogue is quick and dry, hugely witty, and well-suited to the characters and the actors playing them. The farcical nature of some of the comedy and the fourth-wall-breaking won’t be too everyone’s tastes, nor the elements of audience participation (although admittedly gentle and good-natured), but this is largely where the strength of the show lies, for the show feels far more liberated and dynamic when it breaks away from retelling Wells’ story and just lets our primary characters run riot in their own crisis.
It truly is an ensemble effort and all three actors shine, each playing a range of characters and often quickly changing from one to another. Although the show is still quite early into its run, the trio already have a fantastic chemistry which is felt strongly throughout the show (especially as George Kemp is newer to the team than the others), and their engagement with the audience is also playfully charming. Their seemingly endless energy is infectious and however good the material is, it’s their interaction with each other which really makes the show soar.
If ‘Back To The Future’ being turned into a musical didn’t do a lot for you, then ‘The Time Machine’ might be just the ticket you’re looking for. At times anarchic and zany, but with a real bond between the cast underneath it, ‘The Time Machine’ is a refreshingly original take on telling old stories in new ways, and it’s certainly “Time” well spent.
‘The Time Machine’ runs at Cambridge Arts Theatre until Saturday 17th February, before continuing on its UK tour.
Performance runtime 2 hours 10 minutes including interval.
