I Believe My Own Eyes from Tommy

[Miss B. L. T. Down]

Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:26pm

It's a beautiful song, but I was a bit confused when I recently attended a regional production of Tommy. I thought the song was about Tommy's parents coming together to reclaim their lives after deciding to institutionalize their son. Yet in the production I saw, Captain Walker storms out of the room at the end of the song leaving Mrs. Walker in tears. Was this a strange choice of direction, or have I misinterpreted the song all along? Thanks in advance.

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 1:34am

I think it was a strange choice in direction... If I recall correctly, though this was many years ago, I saw a regional production where Captain Walker just sort of exits, not in... a negative way, leaving Mrs. Walker to focus on Tommy, where she loses it, cueing "Smash the Mirror".

[Out In The Sticks]

Posted: 2/29/08 at 2:55am

Could they have interpretated it as frustration with Tommy. Saw this set last night for our production of Tommy and Capt W. does not storm out of ours!