TOMMY in Lincoln, Nebraska

[dhughes@unlinfo.unl.edu (Dave Hughes)]

Okay, I arrived, I saw (and heard), and was conquered.  The current 
touring company's performance of THE WHO'S TOMMY that I attended
at our performing arts center in Lincoln, Nebraska was quite enjoyable,
even though I felt that the band (or orchestra, as it was labeled in the 
program) seemed to be a little restrained in their efforts to rock.  
Three keyboards may have been a bit much, the bass was lost in the
mix, but it was nice to hear two guitars in the band.

The sets, costumes, lighting, special effects, and the singing and
the acting were quite good as well, but it was the power of the live 
event that made my eyes water several times during the performance.  I
will have to admit that live theater, and live musical theater usually
aren't my cup of tea (or bottle of Rolling Rock), but even the 
Broadway style of "over singing" didn't hinder my feelings.  I really
felt for Tommy after he witnessed the murder of a man he had 
known as his father, and then was told that he didn't see it or hear 
it.  I suppose that the trauma of the murder was almost enough to have
affected the boy, but to be told what he was told after the act, made 
things even worse.

I doubt many in the audience got the complete message of TOMMY because
where I live seems to enjoy its organized religions.  As a matter of 
fact, during intermission I heard two women talking about a poem 
that was read at their church today and how much they enjoyed it.  
What they and others still don't realize is that whatever it is they 
are seeking in church is already there inside themselves. 


Dave Hughes
SM, FM, TM, HM