A Review by R. J. Donovan Theater Guy © Boston Online "The Who's Tommy" 30th Anniversary Production Neither Concert Nor Spectacle
When "The Who's Tommy" opened on Broadway in 1993, it amazed audiences with both its music and its spectacular staging. In honor of the 30th Anniversary of the 1969 release of the original recording by Pete Townsend and The Who, the rock opera is back on tour. However, don’t expect what you got in 1993. Described as a stripped down version of the original Broadway production, this "Tommy" is more concert than anything else is. In truth, it's kind of an in-between. And by trying to appeal to too broad an audience, it may not satisfy either end of the spectrum. It's not a full out rock concert (though it's loud enough to fill Foxboro stadium), nor will it satisfy anyone coming for a great theatrical experience. A LIFE IN TURMOIL Set in England between the end of World War II and the late sixties, "Tommy" chronicles the life and times of Tommy Walker. We meet Tommy as a happy young boy and follow him through adulthood. Witnessing a murder in his childhood causes him to withdraw from the world only to reemerge later as an unwilling cult figure. By the end of the evening, Tommy has flown to heights of superstardom only to walk away from it all to seek a more focused life. The show's set is similar to what you might see at a rock concert. Steel framework, several levels, dramatic lighting and so on. Projections are used early in the show only to disappear until very late in the evening. Plus, the band is on stage, high above the action. THE CAST The chorus is dressed completely in black while Michael Seelbach is all in white as adult Tommy. For the first act, he's there to observe himself as a child (Ross Ramone). Seelbach sings great but he's not all that engaging until we get to "I'm Free" half way through the second act. Ramone is believable as the cherubic, blank-faced "deaf, dumb and blind kid" who goes on to fame as the Pinball Wizard. Of the rest of the cast, the stand-out is Michael Gruber as Cousin Kevin. If everyone else were up to his level of energy, the production would be far more compelling. A glance at his program credits shows just how diverse an actor Gruber is. He's been in everything from "Cats" (including the video) to "Miss Saigon," "Falsettos," Madison Square Garden's "Wizard of Oz" and the recent Papermill Playhouse production of "Follies." Also good in the small role of the alcoholic and abusive Uncle Ernie is Paul Dobie. Dobie was in the original Broadway production and has a nice spot in the second act as he tries to capitalize on Tommy's stardom in the funny "Tommy's Holiday Camp." In addition to the musical numbers mentioned above, "Sensation" is good, as is the finale. "Pinball Wizard" closes Act One and I expected more from it. And "The Acid Queen" by Virginia Woodruff is almost a throw-away. Boston is the first stop of "Tommy's" national tour.

A Review
by R. J. Donovan
Theater Guy
© Boston Online

"The Who's Tommy" 30th Anniversary Production
Neither Concert Nor Spectacle

When "The Who's Tommy" opened on Broadway in 1993, it amazed audiences with both its music and its spectacular staging. In honor of the 30th Anniversary of the 1969 release of the original recording by Pete Townsend and The Who, the rock opera is back on tour. However, don’t expect what you got in 1993.

Described as a stripped down version of the original Broadway production,
this "Tommy" is more concert than anything else is. In truth, it's kind of an in-between. And by trying to appeal to too broad an audience, it may not satisfy either end of the spectrum. It's not a full out rock concert (though it's loud enough to fill Foxboro stadium), nor will it satisfy anyone coming for a great theatrical experience.

A LIFE IN TURMOIL

Set in England between the end of World War II and the late sixties, "Tommy" chronicles the life and times of Tommy Walker. We meet Tommy as a happy young boy and follow him through adulthood. Witnessing a murder in his childhood causes him to withdraw from the world only to reemerge later as an unwilling cult figure. By the end of the evening, Tommy has flown to heights of superstardom only to walk away from it all to seek a more focused life.

The show's set is similar to what you might see at a rock concert. Steel framework, several levels, dramatic lighting and so on. Projections are used early in the show only to disappear until very late in the evening. Plus, the band is on stage, high above the action.

THE CAST

The chorus is dressed completely in black while Michael Seelbach is all in white as adult Tommy. For the first act, he's there to observe himself as a child (Ross Ramone). Seelbach sings great but he's not all that engaging until we get to "I'm Free" half way through the second act. Ramone is believable as the cherubic, blank-faced "deaf, dumb and blind kid" who goes on to fame as the Pinball Wizard.

Of the rest of the cast, the stand-out is Michael Gruber as Cousin Kevin. If everyone else were up to his level of energy, the production would be far more compelling. A glance at his program credits shows just how diverse an actor Gruber is. He's been in everything from "Cats" (including the video) to
"Miss Saigon," "Falsettos," Madison Square Garden's "Wizard of Oz" and the recent Papermill Playhouse production of "Follies."

Also good in the small role of the alcoholic and abusive Uncle Ernie is Paul Dobie. Dobie was in the original Broadway production and has a nice spot in the second act as he tries to capitalize on Tommy's stardom in the funny "Tommy's Holiday Camp."

In addition to the musical numbers mentioned above, "Sensation" is good, as is the finale. "Pinball Wizard" closes Act One and I expected more from it. And "The Acid Queen" by Virginia Woodruff is almost a throw-away.

Boston is the first stop of "Tommy's" national tour.

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