‘This World of Tomorrow’ Off-Broadway review — Tom Hanks leads a touching love story that spans space and time
Read our review of This World of Tomorrow off Broadway, a new play co-written and starring Oscar winner Tom Hanks alongside Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara.
Summary
- This World of Tomorrow is a sci-fi love story about a scientist who time-travels from 2089 to the 1939 World's Fair in New York
- The show is co-written by Tom Hanks; he also delivers a charming lead performance alongside Kelli O'Hara
- The show is recommended for fans of Tom Hanks
- history buffs
- and fans of romance movies like Nora Ephron's
It’s not often that an Academy Award-winning actor takes to the stage — let alone co-writes a play to star in — but Tom Hanks does so with aplomb in This World of Tomorrow. Hanks lends his extraordinary storytelling talent to Bert Allenberry, a scientist from 2089 who travels back in time to the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, New York.
The fair is full of wonders, from the robot Elektro to GM’s Futurama — a ride offering a sneak peek at 1960 — and the “Dancing Waters” fountain spectacular. Allenberry is charmed by the era’s simple pleasures, like creamy cow’s milk in his coffee and Buffalo nickels. He’s also captivated by Carmen Perry (Kelli O’Hara), a fairgoer visiting with her niece, Virginia (Kayli Carter).
So captivated, in fact, that he repeats his joyride to the past several more times, eager to relive their afternoon. Hanks and O’Hara share electric chemistry onstage, and O’Hara is so magnetic that it’s little wonder Allenberry is willing to spend more than $200 million per trip to cross time and space just to see her again.
The “world of tomorrow” for the audience is 2089, inside a mysterious scientific company in Kansas, co-founded by Allenberry. The company’s projects are shrouded in scientific lingo and acronyms; it’s hard to decipher what they’re actually working on. The mechanics of the time travel here are equally opaque: certain historic days are available only with a narrow window, a Manhattan hotel room serves as a portal, and the traveler undergoes a nauseating “reprogression” during the journey.
Perhaps this mystery in the future helps anchor the past, but the show would have been strengthened by more scenes in the imagined future, particularly between Allenberry and his co-founder, M-Dash (Ruben Santiago-Hudson). Their reunion in 1953 is touching, yet it would carry even more weight if the audience had a clearer glimpse of their shared history as friends and business partners.
The repeated trips to Thursday, June 8, 1939, replay nearly identical scenes with the same beats and slightly altered dialogue. It’s a testament to the actors’ skill that they can do so many variations of the same moment, but over time, the show begins to feel a bit like Groundhog Day (and a bit too long), and the few humorous lines lose their punch.
Regardless, Hanks is a marvel onstage, and even hearing him deliver the same lines again and again feels like a treat. This is a show worth traveling from any century for.
This World of Tomorrow summary
This World of Tomorrow, co-written by Tom Hanks and James Glossman, was inspired by Hanks’ 2017 short-story collection “Uncommon Type.” Characters from the collection leap from the page to the stage in this sci-fi love story, which follows Bert Allenberry, a scientist from the end of the 21st century, as he travels back to the groundbreaking 1939 World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York. There, he meets a woman named Carmen Perry and begins to imagine what his life might have been like if he’d shared it with her. Their love bends time and space — and defies physics.
What to expect at This World of Tomorrow
Upon entering the Griffin Theater at The Shed, audience members are given a pin that says “I have seen the future.” It’s the same keepsake the characters get for visiting GM’s Futurama exhibit at the World’s Fair, and it helps set the scene for the play as something to experience. The play runs 2 hours and 15 minutes, including an intermission. The Shed is a bit of a walk from the nearest subway station, and reaching the Griffin Theater involves a long escalator ride, so be sure to allow extra time before the show.
What audiences are saying about This World of Tomorrow
As of publication, This World of Tomorrow has a 75% audience approval score on the review aggregator Show-Score. Theatregoers largely delivered mixed-to-positive responses to the performances, length, and the plot.
- “Wow. What a delight. Okay, in all honesty, it might be a bit too long, but I don't care. What a beautiful trip to take. A bit like an episode of Dr. Who. A bit like an old B/W movie. Great acting. Exquisite staging. Costumes/lighting both perfect. MUST SEE!!!” - Show-Score user JoeyFranko
- “This is like a classic Tom Hanks movie: Non-controversial or modern, but nice and entertaining. If you're looking for a good night out with your friends who are 60+, this is it. If there had been any wow factor in the staging, I would have given it 4 stars. Great views from pretty much all.” - Show-Score user Nik D.
- “Loved it! Tom Hanks and Kelly [sic] O'Hara, as always, inhabit their characters as only they can do. The cast overall was terrific. Great story and thought-provoking. Sweet, sentimental, and wistful. As someone getting into her 70th decade, a perfect birthday gift! And seeing Tom Hanks in person was a thrill!!! He exudes goodness!” - Show-Score user Ilene S.
- “Everything is very competent, and star power is undeniable, but it just felt bland by the end. Kinda like Groundhog Day with time travel, but minus the redemption. The script has an annoying amount of inane technobabble and quite a few unnecessary characters. I say this often, but this really should have been more like 90 minutes, no intermission. The first act is only about 50 minutes, and there is definitely filler. The set is pretty cool. Overall, thoroughly just fine.” -Show-Score user Chris
Read more audience reviews of This World of Tomorrow on Show-Score.
Who should see This World of Tomorrow
- Fans of Tom Hanks, of course! He brings his undeniable charm and wit to the character of Bert Allenberry in This World of Tomorrow, and seeing him perform live is a memorable experience.
- History buffs interested in the 1939 World Fair, with its theme “The World of Tomorrow,” will delight in the spectacles described in the play. The program features photographs and information about the awe-inspiring fair.
- Those who enjoy romantic films will appreciate This World of Tomorrow, which feels like it belongs in Nora Ephron’s universe.
- Theatregoers intrigued by time travel on stage and imaginative depictions of the past and future will like this play. Dede Ayite’s costumes — from the 1930s and 1950s period wear to the futuristic workwear of 2089 — are playful and fun.
Learn more about This World of Tomorrow off Broadway
With This World of Tomorrow, Tom Hanks makes a charming playwriting debut, and this science fiction romance proves that love can transcend time.
Photo credit: This World of Tomorrow off Broadway. (Photos by Marc J. Franklin)
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