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TOMMY Road show in Chicago
I saw Tommy in Chicago at The Auditorium Theater on Friday night and was
impressed. This was the first live musical I've seen so my impressions
might be based on the novelty of it rather than the quality, and it was
an impressive theater as well whiched added to the experience (but maybe
not the show).
Overall the music was good, but not great as it lost a lot of its edge.
The drumming to me was actually annoying. It seemed to be there only to
provide a beat. It wasn't true to Keith's form in the least bit.
To answer someone's question, there were no flying objects, but there
must've been a trap door as some of Tommy's entrances could not have
occurred without.
The major castmembers from the stagebill follow. There
were a couple of subsitutions announced but I don't remember the names.
Tommy (adult): Steve Isaacs Uncle Ernie: Stephen Lee Anderson
Mrs. Walker: Christy Tarr Capt. Walker: Jordan Leeds
Cousin Kevin: Michael Arnold The Gypsy (Acid Queen): Kennya Ramsey
I see nothing telling me it wasn't directed by Des McAnuff.
<<<I talk about what to me are major changes in the plot below so If you
are planning on seeing the musical and want to see these for yourself, stop
reading now>>>
In my eyes the storyline on the live performace was changed significantly
from the album. For example, I always thought it was Tommy's father who was
killed in the beginning and not his step father. Not so in the play.
I've always thought the rebellion at the end was brought on because
Tommy's followers realized what he was teaching was B.S. and they didn't
need it, kind of a rebellion against what was the "in" thing. In the
performance, it was Tommy who told his followers that his preaching meant
nothing and what they had (normal day to day lives) was what life was all
about. Those two things will make me listen to the album again closely.
Being a musical, parts
were a little corny while others were outright funny and at least one of
the songs written for the musical was disappointing because it was too
sappy for my taste. All in all, though, it was well worth the
experience. In fact, if Oct. 30 wasn't the last night in Chicago, I
would be very tempted to see it again.
Kyle Ewing