Variety review of The Who

         By Kevin Zimmerman
         NEW YORK (Variety) - Billed not as a Who reunion but a
     performance by its surviving principals Roger Daltrey, Pete
     Townshend and John Entwistle, the current version of
     "Quadrophenia" mixes a large band, narration, illustrative
     videos and somewhat quizzical "guest stars" Billy Idol and Gary
     Glitter.
         "Quadrophenia" has always been the most difficult work in
     the Who's canon. Musically intricate -- Townshend establishes
     four major themes variously representing the lead character's
     four distinct personalities, the four original members of the Who
     and the four elements being just the tip -- "Quadrophenia"
     sports a relatively simple storyline that occasionally rushes
     onto tangents.
         Basically, it's the story of mod teen Jimmy, who in a brief
     period loses his home, girlfriend, motor scooter and faith in his
     lifestyle, not to mention society at large. Grandly ambitious,
     and arguably the best-performed and produced Who album,
     "Quadrophenia" has forever been bogged down live by Townshend's
     insistence on describing the story to fans: the original 1973
     tour was marked by long-winded explanations.
         That problem remained in this production: actor Phil Daniels,
     who played Jimmy in the fine 1979 "Quadrophenia" film, read
     narration between nearly every song that was mercifully brief if
     still momentum-sapping. As in '73, the crowd wanted, first and
     foremost, to rock.
         At 51, Daltrey has lost some of his range, steering clear of
     many of the high notes and apparently running out of gas toward
     the end before rallying for a spine-tingling "Love, Reign O'er
     Me."
         Townshend stuck with acoustic guitar and was notable mainly
     while exhibiting his famed wrists of rubber on a solo "Drowned'
     and trading vocals with Daltrey on a fiery "Helpless Dancer."
     Entwistle characteristically stayed well in the back, delivering
     a thumping bass solo during a roof-raising take on "5:15."
         Glitter made a perfectly buffoonish rocker, while Idol
     appeared as a Sting clone, assaying the same role played by the
     latter in the film -- Ace Face, the top mod who is exposed as
     nothing grander than a bellboy. The juxtaposition of the four
     main vocalists during a rousing "I've Had Enough" was nearly
     brilliant, while Idol's "Bellboy," originally Keith Moon's
     singing showcase, was adequate.
         A 30-minute encore was highlighted by mostly acoustic
     versions of "Behind Blue Eyes" and the inevitable "Won't Get
     Fooled Again," as well as a pleasantly surprising "Magic Bus."
         Apparently a tuneup for the inevitable Broadway production,
     "Quadrophenia" nevertheless retains much of its nimble,
     muscular brilliance. More to the point, perhaps, is the fact tha
     there's clearly life yet in this particular brand of rockers.
         Presented by Metropolitan Entertainment. Band: Roger Daltrey
     Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, Simon Townshend,
     John "Rabbit" Bundrick, Phil Daniels, Gary Glitter, Billy Idol.
     Opened and reviewed July 16, 1996; runs through July 22.
         Reuters/Variety