Time to revive TOMMY ?

[David10086]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 9:18pm

I was able to see TOMMY when it toured more than 20 years ago, and was wondering if it will ever be revived on B'way? I didn't follow it too closely back then, but I believe it was a hit on B'way. (Correct me if I'm wrong). Did anyone see the original? Does anyone think it's time for a B'way revival? 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 9:20pm

There's a thread about this literally once every month from last 6 months. You should look some of those up. People universally agree that it should be revived, but it won't work on Broadway because it's not got the same built-in base of The Who fans. If there is a revival, Reeve Carney is my pick to play the lead.

[David10086]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 9:22pm

How have I missed these threads for the past few months? My apologies if it's been discussed to death already (I didn't know). Interesting to think the built-in base is gone, but it makes sense.

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 9:33pm

I know so many people who would be thrilled to see this revived. I disagree about the fan base not existing. I think Alex Timbers should direct a new production.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 9:59pm

I'd love to see what a company like Deaf West could do with it.

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 10:18pm

I would love to see a revival of Tommy + the six threads Valentina is talking about.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 10:33pm

I was hoping the Stratford Festival production would become a Broadway revival.  It was basically the original staging, but with some spruced up technology.  I just can't imagine a better production than the original.  The design, staging, direction, sound and choreography were all perfect.  Des McAnuff took iconic surreal and dated material and streamlined it into a modern and cohesive production that found relevance again.  And delivered Michael Cerveris to us in an unforgettable performance.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 10:45pm

As a major fan of The Who, I'd like it revived on Broadway too. Mainly because I was three when it initially was on Broadway. But, there needs to be some changes.

The major one thing that needs to be done is new orchestrations. Listening to the cast album, the orchestrations make me want to bang my head against a wall. For what it's worth, The Who's front man, Roger Daltry had said in an interview, that he felt that the orchestrations sounded like "The Who lite" as he put it. However, that was in 1993. There have been more rock musicals produced since then. Many of which, sound like something you'd hear on regular radio. I know that the original production's volume was loud but the two are different. 

Interestingly enough, Des mcAnuff, had this idea of moving the song order around from what it was on the 1969 album. Townshend gave the green light and he did that. He also tinkered with lyrics as well, so much so that he gave the show an entirely different ending from the Who album just with the lyric changes alone. on the album, the song We're Not Gonna Take It on Broadway ends with the crowd saying that they want Tommy as their spiritual leader with Tommy saying that they don't need him to enjoy their lives to the fullest, basically denouncing the though that they are in need of him, crowd gets angry leaving Tommy alone. On the album, it's the total opposite. Tommy pushes the people to allow him to be their spiritual leader which they reject. I've always wondered how the original ending would work onstage.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/28/17 at 11:25pm

I saw it live and loved the orchestrations. I am mot a MAJOR Who fan but I like some of their music. Was familiar with TOMMY when I saw it and was pretty blown away. The show rocked more live but I do like the cast recording. JMO

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 12:10am

I saw the original, with my HS group.  I was suprised how much I liked it, especially given I'm not a big Who fan.  

 

(And don't worry about this thread....I don't remember this topic popping up every month.  (The title pops up a lot, but not as a thread.)

[raddersons]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 12:29am

gleek4114 said: "I'd love to see what a company like Deaf West could do with it."

Would LOVE to see this.

[AGussBway]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 11:56am

Would be interesting to see this Tommy with a gender bender moment....? Is that crazy?

Love the Alex Timbers idea. 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 12:24pm

TheSassySam said: "I would love to see a revival of Tommy + the six threads Valentina is talking about."

Hah, fair enough. I went back and searched for the threads and there were 2 last year - which kept getting bumped up irregularly giving me a false impression that this was a recurring topic. My bad.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 2:13pm

I saw it live and loved the orchestrations.

Me too.  And the sound design was fantastic.  The show was LOUD and enveloping.  During the entr'acte, when the sound and lighting mimicked the audience sitting within the pinball machine, was quite astonishing in its day.

Would be interesting to see this Tommy with a gender bender moment....?

Why?  For what purpose?

[theatregoer3]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 3:05pm

AGussBway said: “Love the Alex Timbers idea."

 

Timbers always talks about how this was a show he saw when he was a kid that truly inspired him and got him interested in theater. Based on what he accomplished with Rocky, I’m sure his interpretation of Tommy would be incredible and I’m sure he’s been dreaming it up over the years.

 

[David10086]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 8:05pm

I'm gad to see the love for TOMMY. A gender-bender version would be rather interesting; maybe they will name it TAMMY? LOL!

Thank you for clearing up the 'six threads' - I really thought I was losing my mind, as I poke around the board daily, looking for topics which interest me. A 'Tommy revival' thread would have definitely caught my eye! 

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 11:51am

I saw the movie as a kid, back when it played in cinemas, but have never seen it on stage. Tina Turner was brilliant. I'd be interested in a revival.

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 2:01pm

I wonder if the sexual assault Arab Spring that we're going through now will make Tommy a tough show to revive, given that the main character (an allegorical stand-in for Townshend himself) is sexually abused by just about everyone in his life, "gets better" and holds no grudges, with the abusers typically treated as comic figures.

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 2:24pm

I really, really hope this show gets revived soon, with an all new innovative staging approach.

[David10086]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 10:57pm

darquegk said: "I wonder if the sexual assault Arab Spring that we're going through now will make Tommy a tough show to revive, given that the main character (an allegorical stand-in for Townshend himself) is sexually abused by just about everyone in his life, "gets better" and holds no grudges, with the abusers typically treated as comic figures."

WOW -  I never thought of that. Great observation! 

[A Canadian in NYC]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 11:06pm

OK - I'll fess up.  I started a TOMMY revival thread back last October....https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1096773#4863536

would still LOVE to see this happen!

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 9:29am

I detest the OBC orchestrations. The vocal arrangements are incredible, but the orchestrations sound so dated. I still have to skip over "Cousin Kevin" because of the synthesizers. Since 1993, though, we've had RENT, AMERICAN IDIOT, NEXT TO NORMAL, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, etc. so I would hope a revival of TOMMY would sound much more like that.

I wouldn't mind some slight changes to the book. I always felt the followers' rejection of Tommy at the end of the show came out of nowhere and was never fully explained. I actually prefer Ken Russell's concept (the ONLY thing I approve of in Russell's vision) that they rejected him because of the commercialism/greed that Tommy came to stand for. That makes more sense to me, and I think it makes much more sense in our current society. Between that and the 21st century concept of  "social media/reality TV celebrity," TOMMY still has some pretty profound things to say over 45 years later.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 10:21am

darquegk said: "I wonder if the sexual assault Arab Spring that we're going through now will make Tommy a tough show to revive, given that the main character (an allegorical stand-in for Townshend himself) is sexually abused by just about everyone in his life, "gets better" and holds no grudges, with the abusers typically treated as comic figures."

Didn't cross my mind either. Yes, good observation.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 11:44am

given that the main character (an allegorical stand-in for Townshend himself) is sexually abused by just about everyone in his life

In the Broadway production, he was only sexually abused by his uncle.  His father takes him to Gypsy, but ends up being horrified by her and removes Tommy before she can do anything to him.  I don't recall anyone else sexually abusing Tommy at all.  It's not that Tommy didn't hold grudges so much as he personally offers forgiveness to his family in the end.

I'm surprised to hear people confused by We're Not Gonna Take It from the Broadway production.  While being interviewed with Sally, she asks how they can all be more like him.  Tommy is taken aback and says that all he's ever wanted was to be like all of them...normal.  This begins his epiphany of rejecting the role model and celebrity status placed upon him and his fans, feeling betrayed and scorned, reject him in return.   

TOMMY:
Welcome to this house
I think I now know why you're here
You want to be like Tommy?
I'm glad you're not I hope that's clear
You shouldn't try to ape my show
It isn't just pinball
You don't need to claim
Your share of my pain
You're normal, after all

You might as well get drunk, so sorry
I've got you sussed
No instant high for free here
This is a bust
I didn't live out some fairy story
Some rags to riches crawl
I couldn't see, I couldn't hear
I couldn't talk at all

FANS:
We're not gonna take it
We're not gonna take it
We're not gonna take it
We're not gonna take it...etc.

Tommy reflects on the silent yearning of his childhood (See Me) and on the words "Heal me", Tommy embarks on his journey of healing and forgiveness, starting with his family, the only ones left by his side, and ultimately, all those who exercised influence on his life, directly or indirectly (Listening to You).  They all join him and in solidarity, extend the anthem of inspiration to the audience.

One of my all-time favorite shows.  My parents attended the tryout in La Jolla and called me that very night overjoyed with the experience, telling me that something truly special was going to hit Broadway.  And they were right.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 11:55am

I understand that Tommy offers forgiveness to his family at the end of the Des McAnuff's version of the storry.  The question becomes about if treating child rape as an almost glib plot point with equally glib forgiveness tacked on at the end is the best way to handle such a weighty subject matter.