THE WHO’S TOMMY Broadway Previews — Page 4

It’s very rare for me to go into a show without a lot of prior knowledge. I went into this fairly blind, and I enjoyed it immensely. It’s such a unique show, and Des McAnuff’s production runs like a well-oiled machine. I also imagine it will only get even smoother as previews progress.

As for the sound, I did not think it was overly or obnoxiously loud at all. It’s definitely loud, but nowhere near the deafening levels I was expecting based on the reviews from the first few previews. I thought both MJ and Once Upon A One More Time were way louder. I will say some of the lyrics are a little hard to decipher, but I have no doubt that will be corrected.

The cast is tremendous all around. This ensemble is probably getting the best workout in NYC right now! Ali Louis Bourzgui has a stunning voice although he was hard to understand at times. Alison Luff has one of the best voices on Broadway IMO, and she really gets to show it off here.

The set is slick and simple. Lots of projections, but they work. I was sitting in the side of front mezzanine. I highly recommend sitting as centered as possible for this to take in the full projections and production. Had I been any farther to side, I think I would have had a partial view.

All in all, this is in great shape to be such a complex show and production in early previews. I look forward to revisiting this post opening.

theatregoer3 said: "It’s intermission. I’m center orchestra, six rows back. This is not loud. I have no idea what everyone has been talking about. Theycould turn it up a notch to give it a bit more energy. I’m not kidding.

I can see how this show was well-receivedregionally but this is not Broadway-caliber. I feel like I’m watching a great regional theater production.The set is serviceable, the staging is messy and doesn’t hold a candle to the original. I don’t get the raves about the choreo. I winced a lot during dance breaks. Bobby Conte is miscast.

I love this show and this story but I wish this had gotten a proper big-budget revival from a new director who could give us a new take. This is Des’ Tommy Light."

I was there last night. Best thing I've seen in years!

The set and projections are like a ballet...the staging and choreography is incredible---ON FIRE!

The cast are singing their faces off--I was mesmerized. I forgot how cool the score is--Rock meets Theatre. This show is so much more THEATRICAL than most of what I've seen in the past few seasons. AND I was more MOVED by this version than the last. They really made it about the family.

Saw the show Saturday night and liked, didn't love it as a whole. Some really exciting music/vocal moments, but overall I was left pretty cold by the whole thing.

Ali Louis Bourzgui, Alison Luff (that VOICE!), and Adam Jacobs were the real standouts for me. Bobby Conte sounded fine but felt incredibly miscast. Luff in particular gets to show off new shades of her voice and "Smash the Mirror" was thrilling. The ensemble is working their butts off and many of them get great moments to show off their various talents.

The production itself didn't move as sleekly as it clearly wanted to for me, I was driven a bit crazy by the cast bringing out every set piece and placing them all in the exact same place. Some of the projections worked, some were incredibly cheesy in ways it didn't seem like they were meant to be.

The show was loud, sure, but it didn't feel overwhelming to me in the front mezzanine and after the first 10 or so minutes, I thought the balance between the band and the voices settled very well.

where are the lottery seats for this?!

yyys said: "where are the lottery seats for this?!"

My lotto seats were ORCH L, E17 & E19. If you back up on this thread, you’ll see where some other lotto winners sat. Mostly seems to be far house left in the orchestra.

My lottery seat tonight was orch left F15, partial view. When they say partial view for this one, they mean partial view. It's still worth it for 40 bucks, but I did miss a decent amount of action.

Was able to see the production this week. To me it lacked the thrill and fire of the production from the 90s, It almost felt like a bus and truck tour remount without the bells and whistles. I still love the score, and there are still wonderful things about Des's staging, but I suspect there will be some disparity in enjoyment from NYC crowds who remember the original, superior incarnation. Maybe my tastes have changed, but I also generally felt this time around like the vision for the show is too literal and needed to be more wild and abstract. This is a rock and roll musical born out of drug trips and rebellion -- and this production felt too clean, slick, and legit to me.

I saw Friday’s preview and visually the show is in great shape. The music & sound is perfect. If anything I thought it should be louder but it builds throughout the first act as it should.

Every scene with Ali Louis Bourguiz is a revelation however narratively the show is all over the place and incomprehensible at times. If you don’t know the material then Tommy’s transformation into an adult and the entire Sally Simpson story could be lost on you —that’s all the problem with the director.

I don’t think the show feels regional as some have pointed out but there are no standouts or show stoppers with any of the featured performers — again, they aren’t directed to be that way and that’s a problem. Acid Queen needs to be a show stopper but it’s a mess that doesn’t advance the plot, doesn’t make sense as directed and could be cut!

But let me get away from the weak parts less this feel like a mediocre review which it is not. If you love the music and love stage design you’ll be in for a treat. I didn’t know you could do things visually like this on stage. I was one of the first to jump to my feet and I don’t think anyone walked away disappointed.

I know the original album and I saw the 93 production. I've just never understood what TOMMY was about other than some talented rock and rollers getting stoned and writing a messy rock opera. I've never understood what actual story point was. Thoughts?

BroadwayBen said: "I know the original album and I saw the 93 production. I've just never understood what TOMMY was about other than some talented rock and rollers getting stoned and writing a messy rock opera. I've never understood what actual story point was. Thoughts?"

I think it’s Pete Townsend’s personal take on relationships and celebrity. It’s about feeling unseen growing up, the allure but eventual emptiness of fame, and the struggle to make real, human connections.

Any insight on whether to go for center rear orchestra (Row M or N) vs. extreme right/left front mezzanine? The discounted seats at like Row D25 or F28 are tempting, but my gut is to spend more to sit with full view on orchestra.

We sat far house right with tickets not advertised as partial view. We could not see half the stage, literally. The fake proscenium which is unneeded makes the sight lines horrible, which just added to the fact I thought the show was dated and looked like they maybe spent 900.00 on the set. At the Saturday matinee 3 songs into the 2nd act the sound board died and it took 20 minutes to restart the act. !2 of us who went were praying they couldn’t restart the show and we would get our money back. Also it was not as loud as been previously mentioned. We took ear plugs and did not use or need them.

East Village said: "I saw Friday’s preview and visually the show is in great shape. The music & sound is perfect. If anything I thought it should be louder but it buildsthroughout the first act as it should.

Every scene with Ali Louis Bourguizis a revelation however narratively the show is all over the place and incomprehensible at times. If you don’t know the material then Tommy’s transformation into an adult and the entire Sally Simpson story could be lost on you —that’s all the problem with the director.

I don’t think the show feels regional as some have pointed out but there are no standouts or show stoppers with any of the featured performers — again, they aren’t directed to be that way and that’s a problem. Acid Queen needs to be a show stopper but it’s a mess that doesn’t advance the plot, doesn’t make sense as directed and could be cut!

But let me get away from the weak parts less this feel like a mediocre review which it is not. If you love the music and love stage design you’ll be in for a treat. I didn’t know you could do thingsvisually like this on stage.I was one of the first to jump to my feet and I don’t think anyone walked away disappointed."

I saw the same performance you did literally and figuratively, specially the Acid Queen scene—total confusion and disappointing performance. But my group of 4 loved the show and couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards. Interestingly, there were 3 teens sitting in front of me and I thought “for them, this must be similar to my experience seeing No No Nanette in the ‘70s. They did not return for Act II.