© Copley News Service
April 28, 1999


Review of 'Tommy' at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago
By: Dan Zeff

"Tommy" is back, not in the glorious stage adaptation of 1993, but as a
concert version that resembles a "Chicago" wannabe.

Like "Chicago," the current version of "Tommy" forgoes elaborate sets and
costumes. Most of the performers wear basic black. Choreography is minimal,
the weight of the show resting on the music and the book. It works for
"Chicago" but is only occasionally successful with "Tommy," partly because
"Chicago" is more creatively staged and partly because "Tommy" hasn't held up
very well since its 1969 premiere as a recording by The Who.

Thirty years ago "Tommy" was hailed as the first rock opera and a landmark in
the history of rock music as an art form. "Tommy" went from record album to
live concert performance to ballet version to a terrible movie to the
sensation revival in 1993. But in 1999, the work seems of more historical
than musical interest.

"Tommy" tells the story of a little boy traumatized by the sight of his father
killing his mother's lover. Tommy retreats into a world of isolation. To
outsiders, he cannot hear, see, or speak. As a boy he is sexually abused by his
Uncle Ernie and brutalized by his evil Cousin Kevin.

But Tommy has a genius for playing pinball machines and the skill elevates him
into a national sensation. He regains his sight, speech and hearing and becomes
a popular religious leader. He builds an empire of holiday camps as religious
sites, but his followers eventually rebel against him, his camps are destroyed,
and he ends up as isolated as the catatonic boy of his youth. That's the original
version. The current production concludes on an upbeat note of reconciliation.

That's the outline of the plot, but pity the poor spectator at the Auditorium
Theatre who came into the show cold. The storyline was difficult to follow, and
sometimes impossible. Part of the problem lay with the poor sound balance between
the on-stage rock band and the performers. The band overpowered the voices too
frequently, smothering much of the ensemble singing. Poor miking and articulation
were also culprits.

Even if the cast enunciated the lyrics to perfection, the narrative wouldn't come
through coherently. The show consists almost entirely of songs, with a few lines
of connecting spoken dialogue. They aren't enough to illuminate the story. The
rapid change in events in the second act would leave viewers totally perplexed
unless they familiarized themselves with the story ahead of time.

The characters are either ciphers or skin deep. Tommy is played by a little boy
and a grown young man, with both often on stage at the same time. As the older
Tommy, Michael Seelbach sings with feeling, but I never developed any compassion
for the adult character. But Ross Ramone was affecting as little Tommy, maybe
because the lad looked so young and vulnerable.

Of all the supporting figures, the most interesting was Cousin Kevin, primarily
because of the powerful singing and persuasive acting by Michael Gruber, who bears
a remarkable resemblance to Billy Idol. Best of all, Gruber could be understood
throughout the evening, a claim no other performer could make, unfortunately.

Finally, the music is lacking. There are still those few great songs, like
"Pinball Wizard." But too many of the songs are undistinguished or derivative.

A large number of young people in the opening night audience would not share
these negative views. They applauded enthusiastically as the show started and
cheered at the curtain call. ''Tommy'' obviously still has its appeal, though
that appeal may rest more on reputation than reality. Yet the 1993 version was
as theatrical and exhilarating as any production of that time. But stripped of
imaginative stagecraft, ''Tommy'' is more of a rock music artifact than masterpiece.

"Tommy" runs through Sunday at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Congress Parkway.
Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday
at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15.50 to $65.50.


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