The Who's Tommy @ The Goodman- Page 2

[Hey, Zelda!]

Posted: 6/16/23 at 3:10pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Can anyone speak to any changes to the material? Have they made any changes to the structure or songs/lyrics?"

According to that Tribune piece, there's a little less Uncle Ernie this time.

 

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 6/16/23 at 4:03pm

QueenAlice said: "Do earplugs help those with startle reflex when it comes to things like gunshot noises in the theatre?"

While I can only speak for myself, I'm gonna say yes. Although, I'm gonna be super honest & admit it might be more of a mental crutch than audible help. (I mean, yes, the earplugs do dampen the sound. But, when you consider the volume of a gunshot like that in Phantom, even the earplug-dampened sound is pretty damn startling.)

Ultimately, for me at least, knowing when the loud sound happens is just as helpful...if not more helpful...than earplugs (which I still tend to wear, anyway).

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/16/23 at 5:52pm

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. I hope you get to see the show and that the replies here will help prepare you to enjoy. Do report back.

[Matt Legg]

Posted: 6/16/23 at 7:04pm

Though I did see the show 30 years ago, I can't really speak to any specifics about lyric changes.  The instrumental sections are really not present... this is a tight show with nonstop singing.  From his pre-show announcement, Des said the first act is 53 minutes and the second act about 45 and he was not lying.  The second act begins right away with song (house lights still on).

And the Tribune was correct that there is far less Uncle Ernie.  He does fiddle about in act one but Tommy's Holiday Camp has been cut from the second act.  Aside from 30 seconds or so when he tries to sell a photo, he is just standing in the shadows when he appears in act 2. 

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 6/16/23 at 11:02pm

Matt Legg said: "Though I did see the show 30 years ago, I can't really speak to any specifics about lyric changes. The instrumental sections are really not present... this is a tight show with nonstop singing. From his pre-show announcement, Des said the first act is 53 minutes and the second act about 45 and he was not lying. The second act begins right away with song (house lights still on).

And the Tribune was correct that there is far less Uncle Ernie. He does fiddle about in act one but Tommy's Holiday Camp has been cut from the second act. Aside from 30 seconds or so when he tries to sell a photo, he is just standing in the shadows when he appears in act 2."

While I'd totally prefer them to leave the show/story as it's always been, I kinda get why they wouldn't want to show Uncle Ernie in a positive light after the atrocious stuff he does in Act 1.

However, I wish they still would have found a way to keep Tommy's Holiday Camp. Sure, it's a brief novelty song. But, it's a song that is on the original album & very much pays homage to wild style of Keith Moon. They should have, in my opinion, given it to another character to sing. 

 

Updated On: 6/16/23 at 11:02 PM

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 11:03pm

Hey, fake harmonica player. There’s no need to flicker your hand back and forth when the harmonica is playing a non-vibrato note.

[Ensemble1687359402]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 4:20pm

I saw this on Sunday and absolutely loved it. I was blown away.

A must for any Who fan who loves the Tommy album. This musical respects the source material / album, as opposed to the 1975 movie which changes a lot of plot points and song order.

The stage design, with all the movement and effects that happen most of the times, keeps you in awe the whole show. I was amazed by the clever elements and how the cast flowed around and interacted with them seamlessly. 

The instruments and score are pre-recorded, but that is understandable as it would be hard to replicate especially the drum parts (after Moon's passing they had to use 2 drummers on tour for example). This is all overseen because the cast is really talented, especially the actors who play Tommy and the mom.

Might be the instrumentation, vocals or everything going on stage but I felt some of the songs packed and extra punch, for better. True 1969 Tommy sound with an extra punch true to live band performances but without any gimmicks or extras that you could hear in the movie (such as synthesizers or other things that reminisce more of Quadrophenia than Tommy). Throughout the whole play I found myself (as well as many other people in the audience) banging my head nonstop.

If you are in Chicago, DO NOT MISS THIS. If you live outside of Chicago and can make the trip, IT'S 100% WORTH IT. The clapping was constant, the standing ovation was instant and long once the play ended. A total crowd pleaser.

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 6:00pm

Ensemble1687359402 said: "I saw this on Sunday and absolutely loved it. I was blown away.

A must for any Who fan who loves the Tommy album. This musical respects the source material / album, as opposed to the 1975 movie which changes a lot of plot points and song order.

The stage design, with all the movement and effects that happen most of the times, keeps you in awe the whole show. I was amazed by the clever elements and how the cast flowed around and interacted with them seamlessly.

The instruments and score are pre-recorded, but that is understandable as it would be hard to replicate especially the drum parts (after Moon's passing they had to use 2 drummers on tour for example). This is all overseen because the cast is really talented, especially the actors who play Tommy and the mom.

Might be the instrumentation, vocals or everything going on stage but I felt some of the songs packed and extra punch, for better. True 1969 Tommy sound with an extra punch true to live band performances but without any gimmicks or extras that you could hear in the movie (such as synthesizers or other things that reminisce more of Quadrophenia than Tommy). Throughout the whole play I found myself (as well as many other people in the audience) banging my head nonstop.

If you are in Chicago, DO NOT MISS THIS. If you live outside of Chicago and can make the trip, IT'S 100% WORTH IT. The clapping was constant, the standing ovation was instant and long once the play ended. A total crowd pleaser."

The show doesn't have a LIVE band/orchestra? 

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 6:10pm

Seems unlikely.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 7:34pm

There are 9 musicians playing live. 3 keyboards (including the conductor), 2 guitars, french horn, bass, percussion and drums.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 7:41pm

All live musicians are members of Local 10-208.

[RumTumJM]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 8:24pm

BalconyClub said: "All live musicians are members of Local 10-208."

 

Thank God!

I mean, The Who's music always sounds best when it's played LIVE & LOUD!

[Ensemble1687359402]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 9:29pm

Glad to hear there are live musicians. I wasn't sure as the theater doesn't have a band pit. I was also trying to find the band mentions in the playbill but couldn't find them. At the end the conductor did come on stage briefly but I wasn't sure if it was completely live as unlikely as it sounded.

There are some moments where there are people onstage playing some instruments but I wasn't positive if it was mic-ed. The drums had to be but the others I wasn't sure.

Agree the Who's music has to be played live and loud!

Updated On: 6/21/23 at 09:29 PM

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 6/22/23 at 12:24am

Holy Mother of God, this show should never be produced again. 

 

I have “known” Tommy for most of my life, from album, film, and original production and OBCR and have enjoyed it for what it is. But the years are not kind to this piece. 

 

Child sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual exploitation, exposing a TEN YEAR OLD CHILD to prostitution  and “acid”, excessive invasive medical exams on a CHILD WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS MENTALHEALTH ISSUES? And that is before the end of Act I.

 

When the parents asked, “Do you think it’s alright to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?” I wanted to scream, “No, are you f’ing nuts?” It is NOT alright. Neither is this production. 


 

Not today, not ever again. This is not entertainment, it is a big old trigger for people who have been through trauma. Forget the freaking GUN SHOTS (and YES, they are LOUD) and worry about the freaking subject matter. 

 

As for the production…

 

Yes, it is loud, but it is a rock musical. That is to be expected. The problem is the over amplification and reverb on all the voices to the level you cannot understand the lyrics. 

The cast is unremarkable, choreography and costumes are blah…

 

I would say this is totally overproduced in the projection department and totally underproduced in every other technical element. The band MAY have been live, but you would not know the difference if it was totally canned. 

 

I spoke to a young FOH person on my way out and expressed my concerns.  They told me that they and most of the staff agree, but really can’t say anything.

 

I would be interested to hear how younger audiences or  anyone who was not familiar with the material prior to this production feel about this production and the subject matter. 

 

This is not even close to a SENSATION.

 

Shame on the Goodman. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/22/23 at 3:29am

Trauma exists. Banning depictions of trauma from artistic expression is not a solution to anything.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/22/23 at 8:21am

Next to the complimentary earplugs at coat check is one of the DO NOT REMOVE warning signs.

Tommy contains…

References to youth trauma after witnessing a violent act.

Bullying.

Suggested sexual and substance abuse.

References to war.

Multiple gunshots.

Strobe and flashing light effects.

….

A feel the production very much succeeds in making the audience feel like we are Tommy.

We see and hear nothing during the inky black pre show. Then, once we touch the pinball machine late in Act 1, an explosion of saturated color and inventive choreography occur.

The volume is full throttle for most of the show. I sit back in my theatre chair like the dude in the old Maxell speaker ad, with a lampshade and necktie blown back, hypnotized by the constant fountain of sound.

The 23-person company front that caps the show is a beauty.

Updated On: 6/22/23 at 08:21 AM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/22/23 at 9:35am

From the dawn of time the theatre has dramatized violent, traumatic, and morally represenhsible behavior.  The opportunity for psychological transference is one of the reasons theatre exists at all.  

 

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 6/22/23 at 10:51am

To say something should never be produced again is the ultimate censorship. If you're easily triggered, then stay away. But I'm not, and I love Tommy, and I want to see it performed. Maybe I want to engage with the ways it depicts all of the things you describe, and possibly challenge it, and maybe even come away feeling critical of it myself. But I can't do any of that if it's never allowed to be produced again. And neither can I do that with any work of art in any format if we insist on erasing everything that might make people uncomfortable. Art wouldn't exist without discomfort.

Stop making decisions for me.

[BalconyClub]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 12:59pm

Lobby signage has been tweaked a bit.

”The character of Tommy suffers child abuse and trauma. If you would like additional information about the content of this production, it can be found at the Information Desk, Coat Check, and Gift Store.”

If the lobby line to play the free Tommy pinball is too long, slide a dollar into any of the other five machines: Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, Rush, Iron Maiden, or the raucous Jurassic Park.

 

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 1:11pm

Lola Getz2 said: "Holy Mother of God, this show should never be produced again.

I have “known” Tommy for most of my life, from album, film, and original production and OBCR and have enjoyed it for what it is. But the years are not kind to this piece.

Child sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual exploitation, exposing a TEN YEAR OLD CHILD to prostitution and “acid”, excessive invasive medical exams on a CHILD WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS MENTALHEALTH ISSUES? And that is before the end of Act I.

When the parents asked, “Do you think it’s alright to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?” I wanted to scream, “No, are you f’ing nuts?” It is NOT alright. Neither is this production.

Not today, not ever again. This is not entertainment, it is a big old trigger for people who have been through trauma. Forget the freaking GUN SHOTS (and YES, they are LOUD) and worry about the freaking subject matter.

You don't get to make decisions for other people. Stating this show should never be produced again is wild. If I see something in a store that pisses me off (Blue Lives Matter/Trump hats/tshirts/flags), I just walk on by. Because that's what adults with common sense do.  If I'm not into a show because of whatever reason, I just don't go. If something doesn't interest you, don't engage in it. I don't judge people for enjoying something that I wouldn't. Censorship is wrong and extremely dangerous. 

 

Updated On: 6/23/23 at 01:11 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 1:40pm

If this transfers, I'd love to see a lobby with ALL the classic Tommy/Pinball Wizard machines available to play. There's been a Tommy-themed board just about once a decade. (And if they're gonna run Jurassic Park, they should pony up and purchase a fully tricked-out Addams Family with all the premium bells and whistles. It's the best pinball machine ever for a reason.)

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 1:51pm

Lola Getz2 said: "Holy Mother of God, this show should never be produced again.



I have “known” Tommy for most of my life, from album, film, and original production and OBCR and have enjoyed it for what it is. But the years are not kind to this piece.



Child sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual exploitation, exposing a TEN YEAR OLD CHILD to prostitution and “acid”, excessive invasive medical exams on a CHILD WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS MENTALHEALTH ISSUES? And that is before the end of Act I.



When the parents asked, “Do you think it’s alright to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?” I wanted to scream, “No, are you f’ing nuts?” It is NOT alright. Neither is this production.




Not today, not ever again. This is not entertainment, it is a big old trigger for people who have been through trauma. Forget the freaking GUN SHOTS (and YES, they are LOUD) and worry about the freaking subject matter.



As for the production…



Yes, it is loud, but it is a rock musical. That is to be expected. The problem is the over amplification and reverb on all the voices to the level you cannot understand the lyrics.

The cast is unremarkable, choreography and costumes are blah…



I would say this is totally overproduced in the projection department and totally underproduced in every other technical element. The band MAY have been live, but you would not know the difference if it was totally canned.



I spoke to a young FOH person on my way out and expressed my concerns. They told me that they and most of the staff agree, but really can’t say anything.



I would be interested to hear how younger audiences or anyone who was not familiar with the material prior to this production feel about this production and the subject matter.



This is not even close to a SENSATION.



Shame on the Goodman."

 

OFFS, clutch those pearls a bit harder, why don't you?  

 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 2:09pm

Lola Getz2 said: "Holy Mother of God, this show should never be produced again.



I have “known” Tommy for most of my life, from album, film, and original production and OBCR and have enjoyed it for what it is. But the years are not kind to this piece.



Child sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual exploitation, exposing a TEN YEAR OLD CHILD to prostitution and “acid”, excessive invasive medical exams on a CHILD WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS MENTALHEALTH ISSUES? And that is before the end of Act I.



When the parents asked, “Do you think it’s alright to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?” I wanted to scream, “No, are you f’ing nuts?” It is NOT alright. Neither is this production.




Not today, not ever again. This is not entertainment, it is a big old trigger for people who have been through trauma. Forget the freaking GUN SHOTS (and YES, they are LOUD) and worry about the freaking subject matter.



As for the production…



Yes, it is loud, but it is a rock musical. That is to be expected. The problem is the over amplification and reverb on all the voices to the level you cannot understand the lyrics.

The cast is unremarkable, choreography and costumes are blah…



I would say this is totally overproduced in the projection department and totally underproduced in every other technical element. The band MAY have been live, but you would not know the difference if it was totally canned.



I spoke to a young FOH person on my way out and expressed my concerns. They told me that they and most of the staff agree, but really can’t say anything.



I would be interested to hear how younger audiences or anyone who was not familiar with the material prior to this production feel about this production and the subject matter.



This is not even close to a SENSATION.



Shame on the Goodman."

God forbid that theatre should dare reflect things that go on in the world. All this pearl clutching over things nowadays will be the death of the theatre. 

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 3:07pm

I went into this almost totally blind, knowing it was based on the Who's album. I also read some of the reviews here so had some high expectations!
 

While the production itself was incredible, the show itself fell a bit flat for me. I loved the rock concert feel, and the entire first 10 minutes with WW2 and everything was very intriguing! Performances were amazing all around, and it was worth seeing the show just for the lighting and choreo, IMO. 

I couldn't quite understand much of the lyrics, which led to me kind of falling off on the storyline, although I could keep up with the basics. Defintiely a weird show, and my companion and I both felt that the show kind of makes a sharp turn after Act 1. Act 1 seemed quite sad and dramatic, while Act 2 was more whimsical and happy. We both had no idea what was going on once the girl (Sally?) started singing as we couldn't understand a word, and the Nazi imagery also took us off guard.

Probably would have benefitted from knowing a bit more about the show and the album for this one, but the people around us loved it. Standing O as soon as the bows started, which was great to see. Overalll definetly worth seeing, but not sure if I'd pay NYC prices for it again.

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 6/23/23 at 3:33pm

Well, I was a bit harsh suggesting this show should never be produced again, so I take that back. You are all correct that I have no right to suggest such a thing and I apologize. Censorship is not the answer. 

I admit I was very riled up when I wrote my initial post, obviously, so forgive me. I do get passionate about things and the child rape, physical abuse, child exploitation, etc, are some of those things. 

I still stand by my take on the show and the production, though. If you enjoy this, I am glad for you, enjoy. 

But this production still disappoints, in my opinion!.See Leaf's post above. The sound is terrible, and I know the lyrics. Maybe that will improve. 

Anyway, thanks for letting me unload. Please accept my apology for being such an ass.