**** Highly Recommended **** The Goodman Theatre production of The Who’s Tommy is simply spectacular! There’s just no other word to describe the awesomeness of The Who’s 1969 rock opera! The voices were magnificent. In fact, when the lads sang Pinball Wizard, I could have sworn it was the members of The Who singing. Add in the dazzling choreography and the scenic projections adding an interesting dimension, you have a smash hit show! 4 BIG Spotlights for a Rockin’ Tommy.
My younger life was defined by rock and roll (Tommy was huge then) so it was great to see the audience rocking out! I was happy to hear awed comments from some of the millennials in the audience who’d never heard of Tommy – or The Who for that matter.
For some reason, Tommy is rarely produced – maybe because of the controversial subject matter, or the complex score. but more likely because of the number of people in the cast. As a matter of fact, I’ve seen most musicals multiple times but I’ve only seen Tommy once before – at the Paramount in Aurora.
In case you didn’t know, the music and lyrics were written by Pete Townshend of the Who; the book by Townshend in collaboration with Des McAnuff. Additional music and lyrics were written by John Entwistle and Keith Moon, also of The Who. McAnuff, who won a Tony Award for directing the original Broadway production in 1992, also directed this production. It was a particular thrill to see McAnuff on stage reading a regrets letter from Pete Townshend, whose flight from London had been cancelled the day before.
Kudos to choreographer Lorin Latarro for the dazzling choreography which is so tight, energetic and precise I had to wonder how many times the dancers hit each other during rehearsals.
Shortly after his wedding, Captain Walker (Adam Jacobs) goes off to fight in the war. After parachuting into enemy territory – in an interesting bit of staging, Walker and his unit all line up and jump into a hole on stage. Walker ends up in a prison camp but back home, Mrs. Walker (Alison Luff), who has given birth to a boy she named Tommy – It’s a Boy – is notified that Captain Walker is dead.
Four years later, the war ends and Captain Walker is released. Meanwhile Mrs. Walker has met someone else. When the Captain unexpectedly comes home and catches his wife with her lover (Nathan Lucrezio).
Although Mrs. Walker turned 4-year-old Tommy (Ava Rose Doty or Presley Rose Jones) away, he saw his father shoot the lover in the mirror. Before calling the police, they tried to convince Tommy that he didn’t see anything.
Subsequently the boy becomes virtually catatonic – not seeing, hearing or speaking. Doctors and hospitals can do nothing for the boy. In his imagination, Tommy is frequently visited by his alter ego (Ali Louis Bourzgui), who sings See Me, Feel Me.
As he grows up, the Walkers convince themselves that Tommy (Annabel Finch or Ezekiel Ruiz), who is now about 10, can be safely left with perverted Uncle Ernie (John Ambrosino), who molests him. In desperation, Captain Walker even takes Tommy to see Gypsy (Christina Sajus), the Acid Queen, although he grabs Tommy and runs before she can give him any drugs.
Then there’s Cousin Kevin (Bobby Conte), who not only bullies Tommy, but encourages his friends to bully the boy, too. With an eye to making fun of Tommy, Cousin Kevin stands him in front of a pinball machine and ignores him. Somehow Tommy finds the controls and starts playing. By the time Cousin Kevin comes back, Tommy (Bourzgui) is winning. The first act ends with rock classic, Pinball Wizard.
Appearing as the Flight Crew, Dancers, Congregants, German Soliers, Sivs, Prisoners of War, Nurses, Policemen, Barristers, Church Choir, Christmas Carolers, Youths, Local Lads & Lasses, Thugs, Louts & Loutettes, Band Members, Laboratory Technicians, Hospital Patients, Security Guards, Fans, Camera Operators & Others: Jeremiah Alsop, Stephen Brower, Haley Gustafson, Sheldon Henry, Aliah James, Gabriel Kearns, Tassy Kirbas, Lily Kren, Nathan Lucrezio, Alexandria Matteo, Morgan McGhee, Mark Mitrano, Reagan Pender, Daniel Quadrino, Jenna Nicole Schoen, Zach Sorrow, Ayana Strutz and Andrew Tufano.
The Orchestra: Rick Fox (Music Director/Conductor/Keyboard 2), Valerie Gebert (Associate Conductor/Keyboard 3), Rose Snyder (Keyboard 1), Jeremiah Frederick (French Horn), Chris Forte (Guitar 1), Felton Offard (Guitar 2), Lawrence Kohut (Bass), Bobby Everson (Percussion) and Jim Widlowski (Drums).
The Who’s Tommy has been extended through August 6th at the Goodman Theatre’s Albert Theatre,170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Most reasonable parking option for the Goodman is the Government Center garage on Lake between LaSalle and Dearborn, $17 online advance payment at www.interparkonline.com/goodmantheatre.
Running time is 2 hours and 10 minutes including a 20-minute intermission.
Performances are:
- Wednesdays at 7:30 pm
- Thursdays at 7:30 pm
- Fridays at 8:00 pm
- Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00 pm
- Sundays at 8:00 pm
Accessible & Special Performances:
- Touch Tour & Audio-Described Performance: July 15th, 12:30 pm Touch Tour, 2:00 pm Performance
- ASL Interpreted Performance, July 7th at 8:00 pm
- Spanish Subtitles, July 15th at 8:00 pm.
- Open Captioned Performance, July 16th at 2:00 pm.
- Sensory Friendly, July 22nd at 2:00 pm.
Tickets $30-$160. FYI (312) 443-3800 or GoodmanTheatre.org/Tommy