Ricardo Montalban Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
Flicker House Productions presents The Who's Tommy, the pioneering rock opera which tells the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind boy who becomes a pinball champion and cult guru. This new production marks the theatrical premiere of EXP3D's 3-D Sound. Bose headphones are provided at every seat. Stars include original Broadway cast member Alice Ripley.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for The Who's Tommy was Sunday July 6, 2008 / 3:00pm. (view all dates)
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There was very little new with the performances in this "re-awakening" of The Who's Tommy, however rather than the standard method of watching a performance on stage, this time we used headphones to make it almost like watching a CD... in a way. Other than not being able to mess with the volume settings, the phones were a cool gimmick. They were Bose, so the quality was wonderful (except for the last song in the first act, which had a very distracting echo) and it meant that no ones foot scuffling or coughing would distract from the show. It's a rock opera, so it fit well enough. Although I feel the gimmick would be best suited in a show such as We Will Rock You, they were an enjoyable asset here as well, let's just hope this doesn't become a standard. There's something to hearing the real notes the orchestra plays that adds energy to a show.
Alexs Pevec was phenomenal, a bright light in a normally dull, rather plain (and often down right bad) assortment of stage actors - by which I mean in LA and not Tommy - and I'm looking forward to many more years of his name headlining marquis.
I was unimpressed with Hendrix and Drayton's Gypsy/Acid Queen and Hawker, which felt uninspired, slow and detached from the rest.
PJ Griffith's Cousin Kevin was laughable at best. He felt better by act 2, but his poor attempt to come across as some bastardized mix of Mick Jagger and Malcolm McDowell's A Clockwork Orange character, Alex, was forced and often hard to watch. Although the energy was commendable, his talent just isn't there.
Alice Ripley and Tom Schmid, as Tommy's parents, were fine. They paled next to the light of their son, but in some ways that added to the overall experience. Tom started weak as the soldier, but when the role brought him closer to his real age, he found his stride.
The fight scenes were dull and emotionless, but Denise Leitner's dance choreography was outstanding - exciting and alive, bringing the ensemble together almost as one entity, breathing as one united unit.
As always, I wished that Tommy's mother was given more direction as to who she really is. Did she actually love her husbands replacement? Was she upset at his death? Or was he just a replacement and little more?
Over all, the show is worth seeing. It's not likely to pull your emotions as Brian Purcell's direction feels as though he cared more for the sound of the music than telling of the story,
but it really is great music, after all.
Fantastic! Go and see this production!
I enjoyed the performances of the character actors more than the leads. "Uncle Ernie" "Cousin Kevin" "the Hawker" & "Sally Simpson" were all very good.
That was just me. The girls next to me were really into "Tommy", squealing with delight & giving him a standing ovation at curtain.
From where I was seated in the 2nd row, I could also see the orchestra conductor in the pit very clearly. He was singing all the words and jumping around. Absolutely getting into it.
The show started off really strong, but turned out to be a pretty uninspired performance overall. It seemed like the players were going through the motions for much of it, and I didn't really buy it. I tend to agree that the headsets contributed to that sense. We actually left the show early out of boredom. I would have left earlier if I wasn't familier with the show already.
On a positive note, the lead for Adult Tommy did a great job. The band was on point.
It was an OK production & could've been better. The actor playing Tommy was excellent!
MEDIOCRE ACTING AND THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A BROADWAY CALIBRE VOICE IS THE MAIN ACTOR THAT PLAYED TOMMY. EVEN ALICE RIPLEY FROM THE ORIGINAL BORADWAY WAS VERY WEAK. THE PRODUCTION WAS OVERALL A MEDIOCRE! IM VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS SHOW.
Very enjoyable show - the singing talent was amazing! Some illogical direction in places, but those moments passed quickly. Great venue, too - very intimate yet professional, not a bad seat in the house. I look forward to seeing other shows at the Montalban in the future.
It had some moments that were really cool. You'd probably like it a lot more if you were a Who fan. But if you're not, it might not do it for you.
Fascinating and professional telling in music of the great rock opera. Memorable lyrics and melodies familiar to boomers and their kids make the night an engaging, nostalgic experience while still remaining relevant to today's cultish societal leanings. Strong lead performances and a smashup Acid Queen from the estimable Nona Hendryx make the show well worth watching. The gimmicky 3-D sound effects requiring headphones seemed a bit much, amusing as it was to watch blue haired matrons bopping in the headphones to iconic tunes like "Tommy Can You Hear Me?", "Sensation" and "Pinball Wizard". The intricate set functioned well as a multi-purpose staging ground, a perfect fit for the intimate Ricardo Mantalban Theatre. Full review soon at http://www.wehonews.com
If you've never seen the Rock Opera 'Tommy', this is a great opportunity. A super intimate theatre/chamber. The cast was very good. You will be provided with ear goggles, giving you a more intense relationship to the performance.
It was a great show. We got tickets for free thanks to Goldstar events comp tix. We payed processing fees only. We would definitely pay for such a great performance. Would definitely see it again.
this show rocked, wish I could see it again
Stunning innovation of headphone mix at every seat! Outstanding cast, perfect execution, especially sexy shirtless Aleks Pevec as Tommy. The play is waay better than the actual original album. Great venue.
Absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great cast, I hope that it returns ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great seats via Goldstar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom Sullivan
Thousand Oaks, CA
In my dreams, I couldn't have imagined such a wonderful production of a classic movie brought to the stage. The sets were great and were utilized to perfection by great directing. The singing was stupendous. The Daltry character is a star in the making. The bose headsets made all seats the best seat in the house. The band (orchestra) was flawless. Everyone should see this wonderful production.
Wonderful production!!! Amazing talent!!! Thank you for the phenomenal tickets. I was in the 7th row and all I paid for was the processing fees. The tickets were on Goldstar*. Thank you!!!!
Absolutely amazing!
The headphones were really cool and added so much. The cast was amazingly strong.
Way to go!
I loved this show and the headphones made things sound so clear
The headsets were an interesting gimmick, but part of the reason for seeing live theatre is the community feeling of watching something together and sharing that energy with the audience and cast. While the sound was amazing, I felt cut off from that energy.
There was a decided lack of energy on stage except when the ensemble came on to dance and generally mediocre acting skills were displayed.
I would have given this show only one star, but two performers changed my opinion. The amazing, committed performances of Aleks Pevec (Tommy) and PJ Griffith (Cousin Kevin) made the show worth seeing.
I've seen "Tommy" on Broadway as well as the national tour, so I consider myself fairly well versed on the show. I was curious as to how the current production would be different (or *if* it would be) and I'm happy to say that it definitely held its own and had some new elements that the earlier version did not. In some instances, I still prefer the Des McAnuff version, but I loved some of the choices made in this version. The whole thing was darker (both scenically as well as being more gritty) which is an interesting and mostly effective take on the material. The entire cast is great, but I especially loved the actor who played Cousin Kevin (in this version, he was more of a rocker/bad boy which works way better than any way I've ever seen this done). And of course, Alecs Pevec was amazing as Tommy and really carries the show with his energy and passion.
If you're a fan, or if you've never seen Tommy-this is a great experience not to be missed and I recommend this show!
I've seen just about every major play out there, but this one was truly exhilerating! Everyone form the actors to the orchestra were top notch.
I didn't know what to expect from a show with such a short run, but boy was I surprised at the quality, lighting design and staging. Fantastic cast of accomplished singers. The 3-D sound experience was actually quite enjoyable and possibly a hint of what's to come for the future of musical theater. The Bose headphones definitely captured some of the music and sound in a way I would not have heard without them. Taken directly from the soundboard, the sound mix was perfect and clear. My guests, who were not familiar at all with the show or music, absolutely loved it. We're going again!
LOVED IT!
Great cast. The headphones worked perfect. I was funny to look around and see people singing along and not bugging the people around them.
TOMMY is certainly a different experience. Each seat has a headset to you can experience the music in "3-D". You have to experience it to understand how great it is. No sounds or distractions from the audience just the music from the stage. Goldstar came through for us on this one. We got free seats in the mezzanine yet when we got there our tickets were 3rd row center orchestra. We could not have asked for better seats and I think the seats run $75 and we got them free. As for the play, I had heard about TOMMY for years but didn't know much about it except for the three most famous songs. I knew it was about a "deaf, dumb, and blind kid" who was a pinball wizard. The beginning seemed so slow and dragged on as they set up the story. I was wondering when I would hear the music I knew. The play itself seemed slow at points but when the cast sang, it was pure beauty. There are some remarkable stars in this production. Aleks Pevec as Tommy is definitely a rising star with a bright future ahead of him. Tom Schind as his father has an amazing voice. I believe it was Leah Seminario who filled in for the role of the ACID QUEEN the night we saw the show. Talk about power and being able to belt out a song. She was remarkable. I'm still thinking about the singers and their immense talents a day later. I think a fan of TOMMY would love the show but the play itself was not that exciting to me. It was the cast that made the evening so magical and I would love to see any of them again in another play. My guest and I were pleased with the price (free) but both agreed we would not wanted to have paid full price or even half price for the show. Again, in my view, the play was not that exciting but the cast was absolutely remarkable.
I felt like there was some sort of weird energy within the cast. It felt disjointed in some way. The energy wasn't there for a few of the actors, the acid queen being one. I really wanted her to run around on stage, show some energy like fire (acid!) was running through her veins. She just stood there and sang. It looked as if she was uncomfortable in her wardrobe and she didn't seem confident in it. However, her voice was amazing so it did make up for some of the energy lacking. I think a lot of my problem with the show was the fact that it was just felt off. It could have been me. Maybe I needed a cocktail? Maybe Sunday was a bad day to see the show, not sure. I think as a whole, the actors were talented vocally and the dancers were great. I would have liked to have seen more ensemble dancing as well. The British accents were overly done for some of the actors and I wish that Mr. and Mrs. Walker would have played drunk, like the movie. Because if they had been drunk/tripped out, it would have given them something to use as subtext. Instead, they just looked like uncaring parents. I will say, a very fine performance came from Cousin Kevin. He had such stage presence and when he came onto the stage, he lit it up. You couldn't help but watch him. His energy was amazing and he was fully committed at all times. The second youngest boy to play Tommy had no lines until he sang at the end but his small 5 minute bit at the pinball machine was really entrancing. I think a lot of the problem was directorial. The set was pretty drab and I believe this strongly played into the lack of energy. It was black and gray the whole time. Not sure why. I get it for the war scene in the beginning but i believe that it could have used more color and lights esp. for a few key scenes. I don't think any of the actors lacked in talent. I just feel as if they were lead the wrong direction. I did dig wearing the headphones as it was pretty groovy. I would tell people to go especially if you've never seen Tommy before as you won't have anything to compare it with so you won't be disappointed.
It was great to once again hear the entire score of The Who's rock opera, "Tommy" -- especially wearing Bose headphones! The performers were excellent, especially "Tommy." It was a fun and interesting evening.
Great theater. We got 7th row orchestra so happy with the seats. The 3-d bose headphones were great. The talent was also up to par. Recommend as a night out for something different to do.
Aleks Pevec was amazing. I didn't think the headphones added to the experience in fact it distanced the audience if anything. I think it was a good experiment but I would have preferred a killer surround sound experience without headphones.
A good staging of this classic musical. The vocal mix through the headphones was muddy and the show didn't "rock" as much as I had hoped. I could see the violinist sawing away but rarely heard her in the mix. Several of the Pinball Lads had trouble hitting the high notes and some notes were taken down the octave which was too bad. The lighting and set effects were fun but the flying effect was jerky and the actors looked awkward hanging there.
The theatre was HOT which didn't make the headphones any more comfortable. Although it was worth wearing them for the great sound effects. The hours spent recording them really paid off and added to the experience.
Tommy, Mr. & Mrs. Walker, and Cousin Kevin/Lead Pinball Lad were GREAT!!! Also great performances from Leah Seminario and Daniel Guzman who each played multiple roles. I don't understand the hype about Hawker (his playing was sparse) and Acid Queen (didn't sing any of the high notes) as each seemed like they were going through the motions (although perhaps it was hot on stage too).
Kudos to the director for trying something new and succeeding much of the time.
The Ricardo Montelban theatre is just wonderful. Every seat had a Dolby Sound headset. Comfortable seating. Parking very close by. Not a bad seat in the whole place. The play was just fabulous. You would swear you were looking at a young Roger Daltry. My 24 year old son really enjoyed it and now has a little more insite into why his Mumzy is so crazy ... LOL ... Highly recommend! Come early, wear comfortable shoes and enjoy the historic area there at Hollywood/Vine up to Highland. Great entertainment!
FABULOUS!
I've seen "Tommy" on Broadway...so I've seen better. The performance was just OK. Some of the direction seemed strange, and I honestly didn't care for some of the actors. The lead was amazing, but I think he just made the other actors look so-so. The orchestra rocked, and they may have been my favorite part.
Also, it was so freakin hot inside the theatre, I thought I might pass out. It was clear that not everyone around me had used Sure that morning.
This revival was quite disappointing - Pedestrian staging, ridiculously simple light design, laughably bad accents and choreography that would shame a high school of the performing arts.
Alice Ripley who is usually a fantastic performer seemed lost due to bad direction. Nona Hendryx was nearly comatose. The cast's lack of energy may have been due to the high temperature in the auditorium- which hovered around the high 70's where the audience was sitting.
On the plus side, the band was excellent and the sound design was wonderful.
The performance was great, the headphone music was spectacular, most singers were right on their game (including the lead).
The only negative comments are:
The upper balcony has a broken EXIT sign and the glare from the light was very distracting
The headphones could have used a volume control as they were very loud at some parts (and even momentary distortion).
The show itself was great. Alice Ripley rocks it...her "Smash The Mirror" is FIERCE.
But... Not a fan of the headphones. For me theatre is a communal experience. And the headphones really take you out of that and isolate you.
Other than that...it was great.
Beware of gore splash if you're in the front row. Only one part. LOL.
I thought this production was fantastic! The entire cast was great, the sets, costumes and sound were great and their 3-D sound design was awesome! I would definitely recommend this show. Though I wouldn't bring any kids under maybe 11 or 12. There's a few parts that are borderline inappropriate, so know that before you buy.
I was very excited when I saw that "Tommy" was returning to LA - especially with Alice Ripley. I had seen the production at Universal in the 90's so I knew what I about to see. We attended Saturday 6/21 matinee. Here are a few of my thoughts:
• The stage was a bit overwhelming. It seemed as if a production of "Rent" left a few items behind so they used them for the set. Did not leave space for performance other then up the stairs or coming out of the black drape on the turntable.
• Alice Ripley seems to have 2 looks - smirk or lost. Every scene she appeared seems to say "why did I say yes to this??" (great ad-lib when hats falls off)
• Alecks Pevec has a great voice but I felt he overacted the role in the first act. Also, when he came down the stairs and performed his audition for "So You Think You Can Dance" during Amazing Journey I actually laughed
• Doug Crawford should learn when you die on stage – breathing is noticed by the audience
• Too much Flying by Foye - did we really need the young Tommy's flying up during the show when later they appeared on the side steps?
• Nona Hendryx - really??? Acid Queen is a rockin song / production number- perhaps Chaka Khan said no?
• Many set problems including watching the mirror almost get stuck in the set - with the staging you don’t get to see the "mirror" work like you should. One of the best scene's from the 90's was when older Tommy looks in the mirror and the younger Tommy is inside - not here - never made the comparison, except when they walked on stage together
• The BOSE headsets were amazing – I wish all Theaters had these installed. When you remove the headsets you can actual tell the difference, the sound is amazing (did I say that already??)
• Rule of Theater – if you can’t do a good British accent – DON’T!
• Best thing – Jenna Leigh Green – we wanted more of her – too bad Sally Simpson isn’t in the first act
• Performance wise, I was very happy. I thought the essence of the show was delivered – but at a minimal level
We purchased our tickets from Goldstar and worried we would be placed in the rear left corner of the Theater but we actually had fair seats. When we looked at the seating chart prior to arriving, we saw the Orchestra was fairly full so when we received our tickets, we are on Stage left – row H. We know these are not the best seats but for this Theater – all seats are good seats. Prior to curtain, we looked and saw that the entire center section was empty (row J to back). It seems that they sat all the patrons down in the first 10 rows to fill the house. Sadly, they had a sign on the door as we exited saying “Today’s Ticket Stub gets you 50% off Tonight Performance – 6/21 only” – I guess gas prices are now affecting Theater in LA.
If you have never seen “The Who’s Tommy” I would recommend this production but if you have seen another full staged version (not the movie), go in knowing it’s almost like your local Community Theater production then an actual LA/ Broadway show.
Great show..
We saw the show opening preview. Excellent show, creative choreography, and wonderful performances, especially by Aleks Pevec (Tommy) & PJ Griffith (Cousin Kevin). Pevec's voice is unbelievable. For those who grew up on the album, you will enjoy the awesome new twist of wearing the BOSE headphones to experience the sites and sounds that Tommy hears. To those who loved the stage show, this show offers new interpretations, including a Tommy who dances to express what he's feeling. Awesome show, it can only get better.
I love this Musical...I love all kinds of theater from our large stages to our 15 seat theaters....For this show...RUN do not walk and get as far away from thinking you want to see this.
Very Unorganized- started 8:30- huge lines, 3 people doing it all
NO air conditioning- those who stayed went home soaked.
This head phone thing was a brilliant idea, but fails as it over load, under teched, and I can hear their breathing and muttering to each other-
IF you dont wear the head set- the sound is weak.
Show itself...was lead by a great lead singer...but all else fails to enhance and create a union of the sight and sound. The head sets seem to disstance us, and leaves the actos and show off in the weaker distance.
I love the show, and was thrilled to get tickets at a discount, but they were not worth this annoying -disappointing evening. If they gave refunds- I would have in the first 3 minutes.
I saw this show 8 times on Broadway, and twice off. This is comparable to the Broadway show, with an outstanding cast. Aleks Pevec is amazing, and it was great to see the lovely Alice Ripley again.
This is one of the best productions I have ever seen in Los Angeles! Great acting, staging, costumes, lighting, set and - of course - music! A Broadway-caliber experience, right here in our own backyard. The headphones added an extra dimension; but the sound was so good - including live band in the orchestra pit - that it would have been enjoyable even without them. Great for adults and teenage kids!
I felt like this production swung for the fences and hit a single. To begin, this is theater with surround sound headphones for the audio. A creative and new approach, and cool for a show with a soundtrack from The Who. I appreciate and admire the effort to bring something new to the theater community, but in the end it didn't improve the experience for me. While the sound was great, the whole vibe of being part of an audience was absent - the laughter, applause, foot tapping, etc... When everyone took off their headphones and started applauding at the end, I realized how much I'd missed that community feel in a live theater setting.
Also, the group I went with felt like we saw two different shows in Act 1 vs. Act 2. Act 1 was decidedly mediocre -- one part performance and several parts show itself. (There's only so much you can do with a frenzied story and a catatonic main character for an entire act, but most of the supporting cast and direction still let me down here). Read the program blurb about the show before you watch -- I've seen the show before and still wouldn't have followed the first act without it. Part of what also bothered me is several major characters seemed 10-20 years too old in the first act. (Even the kids looked 4-5 years older than they were supposed to be as Young Tommy.) The Pinball Wizard number was great, however, and the guy playing Tommy's cousin was a phenomenal standout in Act 1. He really lived that role and brought the energy back into the house.
Then came Act 2, which is largely carried by Adult Tommy, and the actor was sensational. He really brought the whole show alive and kept it there for the whole second act.
One thing that surprised me about the show was how strong the dancing was. I love modern/contemporary dance, and they did a lot with that. I actually don't think it was entirely right for this show, so it did take me out of the moment in a couple places, but the execution of the choreography was great.
FYI, if the heat wave continues, know in advance that the theater's AC is not great when it's 100 degrees outside.
Go naked. It was about 100 degrees in the theatre. I don't know what they were thinking. I was so uncomfortable I started having palpitations, and when I left, my shirt was clinging to my body from profuse sweat. Couple the theatre temperature with the claustrophobic headphones you had to wear throughout the entire performance, and it was a distracting evening, which was a shame because the show is good. Not great, but adventurous, professional and fun.
Not the best Tommy, but pretty darn good.
Well, I'll give you the bad first and then the good since there's more good.
Bad: The 3D sound ends up being listening to the performance through BOSE Headphones. While that's an interesting gimmick for a few minutes, I would much have preferred to have been listenting to an awesome bose speaker system without the headphones. They don't really enhance the experience, and bad thing #2 - it was HOT! I was in the upper section, but dang it was hot and headphones over your ears when you're already hot isn't great.
The performance was not as good as the touring Broadway Version I saw in the early 90's which would have been 4+ stars from me - a couple of the numbers were lacking something vocally and one of my favorite songs was cut way shorter than the multi-leveled version of it when it was on Broadway, but those are my only complaints.
Overall, it really is a great performance of a great show! Tommy is unlike any other musical you'll ever see, both in music and abstract story-telling. The leads in Tommy, his parents, uncle ernie, and his cousing were all standouts with great voices and performances. The set though far less technically specatacular than others, was extremely creative in set up and use.
The venue is awesome! Other than the heat and my preference for speaker sound over the earphones, this is a huge venue with NO bad seats! We were in the balcony pretty far back and still felt like we had great seats!
Overall, a well-directed, well-performed production of one of Broadway's most interesting musicals. For the Goldstar price, you can't beat it!
It was amazing!! I have to see it again!
The best show I have seen in LA in many years.
loved the choreography!
The performances were great. The show itself is not.
Alek Pevec as Tommy was incredible! That being said, the show was static, the tempos slow, and the use of the headset distanced the audience with the performers. I was not blown away by the sound. The high pitches seemed muted. Live theatre is about the people on the stage and the relationship with the audience. Wearing the headset muted the applause and inhibited the feeling of community while sharing the appreciation of the performers.
All in all, this was a very good experience. I thought the acting and singing were outstanding. I'm not sure that I had a negative or positive experience from the headphones. Mine were extremely loud and I found myself wishing that I had some volume control when I would have preferred to be listening to the show. Aleks Pevec was excellent as Tommy. Additionally, the actor/singer who played Cousin Kevin was fantastic. He played his role with a high level of energy and enthusiasm. I was less impressed with Nona Hendryx. She had an incredible opportunity to bring a new, special level of energy to the role of the ACID QUEEN. She failed completely. I was so amped up for her to get out there and let it rip and I was completely disappointed in her performance. It was subdued and boring.
Other than that disappointment, I thought the show was very enjoyable and I would recommend it, without hesitation.
This show is so poorly directed it's laughable at times. (For instance, actors flying on and off stage for no apparent reason.) The headphones, while an interesting and entertaining idea at first, I believe in the end created a disconnect between you and what was happening on stage. I ended up not using them during the second act.
Pre-opening night performance. Show started 1/2 hour late.
The actor who played Tommy's cousin would have made a better Tommy.
The experience was unexpectedly flat. I liked the headphones, which were comfortable and gave you a real feeling of intimacy with the music, but would have preferred that they had a volume control for the user. (I heard several people around me expressing the same wish.)
The high point in terms of theatrics came within minutes of the opening, during the war segment, when sirens blared and searchlights swept the audience, giving you a real sense of involvement in the proceedings. The rest of the staging was uninspired, relying too much on dance and too little on visual spectacle.
The dull painted box that was the pinball machine was especially disappointing. This could have been visually exciting, with distorted perspectives and sound effects and flashing lights, but instead it was just a throwaway—a dull painted box. The smashing mirror sequence that triggers Tommy’s recovery from catatonia was similarly uninspired—Alice Ripley (Tommy’s mother) mimes smashing the mirror; the mirror rises up and spins around as lights flash on and off; and on the back side is another mirror with painted cracks—ho hum. This effect needed to be transformative, with shattering sound effects, real broken glass, maybe even pyrotechnics.
There was a problem with the segment that triggers Tommy’s catatonia. Tommy’s father, thought to be dead, returns to find that his wife has taken up with another man. Tommy’s father kills the other man as Tommy watches. This all happens wordlessly in the space of about 30 seconds (or so it seems), so quickly that the actions seem cartoonish; and during this critical segment, our eyes are diverted from Tommy, so we are deprived of the emotional information that would enable us to understand Tommy’s pain.
The choice of timing between acts was puzzling. Instead of pausing when there is some critical climax or transformative occurrence, or even passage of time; act one ends with the young adult Tommy, still deaf, dumb and blind, wowing the crowds with his pinball skills. Act two resumes at the same place and time, like a television show cut for convenience rather than for structure.
When the recovered Tommy speaks to the audience, he sounds like a simpleton. I realize he has little experience of the world, but I would expect this character to be more naively innocent, and less—well, slow. Also, towards the end, the storyline becomes a little muddled. I wasn’t quite clear on what was happening, or why.
The original 1969 album has always been a great favorite of mine, and I’ve listened to it many times, so it was a bit jarring to hear other voices doing this material; but the actors sang with enthusiasm, if not a great deal of engagment. Some of the lyrics were slightly different than the original material, and there was a new song—“I Believe My Own Eyes”—that I did not know.
I’m glad I went, but I believe this material can be staged in a more exciting way. My companion was less enthusiastic. She took off the headphones because she wondered whether the vocals were prerecorded. (I don’t believe they were.) She also thought some of the peripheral players were walking through their performances, as though they had been bused in from a junior college production.
We both agreed on one thing—why do audiences today feel compelled to give a standing ovation, regardless of the level of the material? Seriously people, unless you’ve really been blown away, stay in your seats and clap with whatever level of enthusiasm you desire. Routine standing ovations cheapen the gesture and give us nothing with which to reward the truly inspired performance.
The cast is good, and the music is solid. The sets are weak, and the headphones are not my favorite way to hear sound in a theater.
aleks pevec's voice fit the titular role of tommy tremendously, but his acting wasn't really cohesive throughout. on opening night, there were a handful of obvious mistakes by various cast members. the low point of the show was nona hendryx as the most underwhelming and un-tina turner acid queen you'll ever see(in terribly distracting butt-less chainmail chaps, no less). the set was well used and the lighting was phenominal. the music in the headphones was mixed really well, even to the extent of covering up some of the performance shortcomings. overall it was an enjoyable experience, but if this is some sort of pre-broadway run, it needs MAJOR work...
Bland sets, badly lit, sound gimmick was horrible idea, badly directed, total lack of energy from cast except for actor playing Kevin. Overll a terrible production.
TOMMY-"Lost In Translation" As I sat in the audience with my kids, I was perplexed why, with a great cast, outstanding sound through the Bose headsets, and all the elements in place, this production felt sterile and inert. It wasn't until "Pinball Wizard" came bursting into fruition, did the "WOW!" factor emerge, and even then, I thought, "Gee, this was a VERY long exposition before the pay-off song."
Perhaps the source material wasn't that strong or profound, and most likely the headphone addition, while adding to the clarity of the sound, most certainly "removed" us from the production rather than "inserted" us inside. Adding to the distraction was the heat in the auditorium which made the headphones, uncomfortable to wear.
Overall, this was a noble misfire. Sight lines and sound were great with a phenomenal cast. (the lead was a flattering re-incarnation of Roger Daltry with a voice right out of the finals for "American-Idol". ) The dancing and choreography was good, and yet the transfer of this landmark show to a "broadway show" format made it seem like a production of a"Solid Gold Dancers" medley of Tommy songs.(no-offense to the Solid Gold Dancers). The second act was better than the first, but lacked anything with the punch of "Pinball Wizard".
An interesting evening, but thumbs-down from my kids and I, sad to report, "so much effort for so little glory."
While I loved the headphones because you could hear the music so crisp and clean, the theater's air conditioning system was not working and it was far too hot to keep them comfortably on your head for so long. Additionally it was sort of awkward at the end of numbers for applause. I think you sort of loose the exciting connection of live theater that comes from everyone laughing, gasping or clapping in unison.
As for the performances, I was surprisingly under-whelmed by most of the leads with the exception of Aleks Pevec & PJ Griffith. Both had amazing voices, and were a lot of fun to watch. The ensemble was fantastic; changing characters with skill and ease helped to keep the energy up which was quite difficult to do in the very hot theater. I have to say that was probably my biggest disappointment! I can only imagine how miserable it was for those performers on stage.
We loved it. The Who's masterpiece is timeless and fresh and has a very positive message.
Horribly staged. Ugliest set I've seen in a LONG time. Costumes were all over the place.
Amazing!!!
Awesome show. The music is unbelievable and the entire cast is fantastic. The sounds from the headphones virtually put you on the stage. I was getting chills all night. Who fans are gonna love this. The young Tommys are terrific (4-year-old Tommy has a fan club!) and Alice, Aleks, Tom and PJ are amazing.
Excellent!!!!!!! Extremely talented cast, very cool sound system.
Bose headphones are at every seat. All venues should do the same thing. Fabulous way to listen to and watch a play!!!
I've been listening to Tommy since 1969, seen the crazy movie several times and now after seeing this production I finally fully understand the story. The staging was clever and the headphones sound great but remove the audience from the "theatre experience." There was no applause after numbers except for a warm response following "Acid Queen." The audience obviously enjoyed the show, giving the cast a standing "O" but the experience is more akin to watching a movie at home wearing headphones than a live event. Many people have commented on oppressive heat in the theatre. Last night it was 88 degrees at curtain and I was expecting the worst. The house was 3/4 full, but was not uncomfortable in the orchestra.
Wonderful direction. GRRRRRRRRRRRRReat Band. Leads all worth the money. I recommend this show.
Brought my 14 year old son to experience the first rock opera. He loved it, as did I.
Great production overall and the cast is incredibly talented. I think this is a definite must see. The digital surround sound completely changes the theatrical experience.
Great music, great acting, great singing. Costumes were pretty lame, especially The Acid Queen. Interesting stage design. Excellent lighting design. Would see it again...with discount tickets. Total and complete disorganization regarding getting everyone into the (overly warm) theater. Started late. Great show, would recommend it, but we had a below-average theater-going experience.
Great fun...my wife and I both enjoyed it, though she mentioned it didn't quite live up to the performances she saw in London several years ago (what a culture snob). Thanks, Goldstar, for the excellent deal on the tickets!
The theater was comfortable, easy parking and uncomplicated.
The musical was so so. Tommy, the character was very good but the show seemed to drag on and I expected more familiar songs. Very repetitive.
The orchestra was great.
Good to see once but I wouldnt do it twice.
NICELY STAGED - HEARTFELT PERFORMANCES
Go for the Bose and sound technology, and the voices. I truly think this might be the best these songs, and music, have ever sounded. Standouts were Aleks Pevec as Tommy, (an uncanny resemblance to Daltry), PJ Griffith as Cousin Kevin, (great inner life at all times), Clifton Oliver as The Hawker, and Tom Schmid as Captain Walker, (an effortless voice). Negatives: Story structure and transitions, and a God-awful set.
A decent production, but the direction is lacking. Terrific voices, and the headphones are excellent.
I expected a better version. The actor who played the lead was awesome ,as was the mother and father.Much like community theatre.
Both Pevec (Tommy) & Griffith (cousin Kevin) did an outstanding performance. I loved every minute they were onstage.
The Bose headset was a new experience for me... the sound was terrific but it's a personal preference. For me, i prefer not wearing the headsets and experience the theater "raw".
The seats were fantastic, and the Bose headphones made for a very personal experience. Usually, I am annoyed by the people sitting around me (it seems as though theatre etiquette is a thing of the past), but with those headphones pumping the music into my ears, I couldn't hear anybody around me! The performances are fantastic. My only down point are the slight differences made, which are not any fault of this company's production. I've listened to Tommy 100+ times, and the added song was distracting. It just doesn't fit with the rest of the music.
This show is definitely worth the half price tickets!
Huge WHO fan, and Tommy fan. Loved the headphones for the great
3-D sound. Actors were talented with voices of gifted singers. Tommy was as gorgeous as the Roger Daltry in his prime ! "Worship the messiah" . The children were very impressive to watch. Cousin Kevin was also one sexy man ;) (Shame on me). BRAVO - Rock and Roll.
I'm a bit bias, as I mentioned, HUGE Who fan. Had I not been, the plot may have confused me, as it did in the movie - 30 years ago ! Loved it.
The music was excellent; great sound even without the Bose
headphones. The theater could use more leg room for people over six feet tall like myself.
Since I am 77 years old, and my sister is 87, we were not sure we would enjoy "Tommy" but we were curious. We were glad we went. It was not as loud as I had feared, and we both felt the Bose headphones were very helpful in hearing the words.
We did feel that Tommy's mother and father did not perform up to their full potential. The choreography was excellent!
The 2nd act was much better than the first. Liked the music but didn't like the fact that they changed the story.
A very good production of my favorite musical (one of the only ones I actually like anyway). The guy playing adult Tommy was great (the kids were good too, they just don't have as much to do), and the guy playing the cousin, and Mrs. Walker. Those were the highlights. The woman playing the Acid Queen....well, I don't know what happened there, it seemed very stifled (when its usually the best part of the show). This is the first musical I've been to which utilitizes headphones for the audience members. I prefer live music to sound live, with the raw echo of the drums and percussion, and the wailing guitars, so I would have preferred it without the headphones. I tried to listen without from time to time and it was hard to hear the vocals and the guitars and bass.
Outstanding production and exceptional, talented cast make this 'TOMMY' well worth seeing. Let's get past the fact that te theater is cramped and has no air conditioning -- during the first act, it got so hot in the theater that I thought I wouldl have to step outside for air!! (Ricardo Montalban Theater -- take notice -- this is NOT A GOOD THING !!)
The only other disappointment to the show (and it was a serious and surprising disappointment) was the performance of headliner Nona Hendrix. Her version of the Acid Queen was weak, mechanical and easily forgettable. She obviously was just going through the montions and did not have her heart in the role -- unlike the rest of the cast that shined, shined, shined !!
Aleks Pevec (TOMMY) is in fine form - his voice was clear and powerful. Other star performances were presented by PJ Griffith (Cousin Kevin) and Alice Ripley (Mrs Walker). The sound system and the introduction of 3D Sound brought a whole other dimension to the theater experience. The BOSE headsets were comfortable to wear and allowed the audience to hear every word, every sound on stage (and some sounds that were added to bring depth to the production). The sound was remixed live as the production tool place. AMAZING!
Its a shame that TOMMY is only playing a short run -- for the amount of money spent on this production (its obvious) and the quality of actors and dancers and singers, I can not understand why the show on;y plays for less than 2 weeks. With that said -- GO, GET TICKETS AND GO see this version of TOMMY.
Definately one of the best productions I have seen in the last decade. Every single cast member was truly exceptional. The choreography was smoking hot and the set and lighting really drew you into the essence of the show. When Aleks Pevec sang it made you feel like jumping out of your skin and being right there with him. PJ Griffith (Cousin Kevin) added so much energy to the stage, not to mention the outstanding vocals from Alice Ripley and Tom Schmid (Mr. and Mrs. Walker). The acting was superb. The boy who played ten year old Tommy (Lorenzo Doryon) pulled off the best version of this character I have ever seen, and his voice was pure and angelic. This is a must see performance. I took my 11 and 14 year old daughters and they are raving about it to all their friends. I could go on and on.....
cast was exceptional, particularly Aleks Pevec as Tommy. sound system was out of this world.
Thought the headphones would be too loud or detract, but was surprised and pleased that neither was the case, and it was an enhancement. Strong cast performances all around, great energy from dancers--a thoroughly enjoyable evening. This version revived my love for the music which had been seriously damaged by the film. Theater could have been better ventilated...was stuffy and generally too warm.
The performance I saw last night was the "first preview." That considered, I think it came off very wel. I think in a couple of days, things will run a bit smoother. The boy who played Tommy has a beautiful voice, as does the actor who plays his father. Thank God I now have someone to replace in my mind the sloppy, incomprehensible performance of Ann-Margret as Tommy's mother. The headphones were an added place - they made it sound like we were in a movie.
Excellent performers! Outstanding singing and dancing. We saw a preview and the staging needed to be a bit tighter, but overall an excellent production. The BOSE headsets and sound system made it a unique and intimate experience.
This production is MARVELOUS. If you have any interest at all in this Opera, THIS is the production to see. The sound is just as magnificent as described, the acting, singing and dancing is top notch and the orchestra NAILED every note. The boy who plays the ten year old Tommy is a very talented actor... the man who plays older Tommy is truly compelling in the role. DON'T MISS IT!
Excellent Physical production. Tepid direction and dance. Did not flow well with the rhythm of the music. The cast, except for Mr. Pevec did not make emotional connection to each other,especially mom and dad. Keep working at it.
Great performance.
It was very entertaining. I've always loved the music and it was interesting seeing it played out and sung live. It's not Wicked (right around the corner) but it was worth seeing. The guy who played Tommy -HELLO GORGEOUS! What's not to like???
The show was amazing.
Aleks Pevec as Tommy was AMAZING! The show was great! High Energy! Cool Choreography and great singing!
Fantastic
Wow, I was impressed with this production! Great seats and those abs on Tommy were a highlight! :) I have been recommending this one to others all around. Wasn't totally crazy about the Bose headsets provided. Good for hearing the music BUT takes away from the theater experience a bit. Otherwise, loved it!
I had seen the Broadway version in New York in the mid-90's; a truly exceptional production. So I was initially skeptical about how this version would measure up, but I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised. All of the acting/singing/dancing was top-notch, especially from Aleks Pevec as Tommy. It is so important to have a strong actor and singer in this lead role and Aleks was superb. He blew me away and exceeded my expectations. Such a fun show with great music. Pete Townshend and The Who rock!!
Actors - singers were all great. The sound was wonderful. I did not like the headphones (too loud for me). Great visuals - songs all moving. Cast is terrific.
great production. should have run longer
We were fortunate to get 2 of the 4 FREE tickets to attend this lively performance and had second row seats. What could be better???
Goldstar is great, especially when we decide last minute to make plans, as there are always multiple options to choose from!! We've never been disappointed.
The Ricardo Montalban Theatre is a landmark theater built in 1926 by Cecil B. De Mille and and famous Los Angeles architect Myron Young. An intimate venue with 1,200 seats, the theater is located in the heart of Hollywood, just south of Hollywood and Vine. It was previously known as the Doolittle Theatre and, before that, the Huntington Hartford. A recent partnership with Nike has brought a Nik
Website: http://www.thewhostommy.com/
Flicker House Productions presents a new production of The Who's Tommy at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood. The Who's Tommy features music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. The cast will include original Broadway cast member Alice Ripley.
The production is directed by Brian Purcell, who directed "Chess," the special event at the Ford Amphitheatre last summer. With musical director Dan Redfeld and choreographer Denise Leitner, Purcell has come up with a radical new theatrical treatment for Tommy, one of the seminal works of the rock era. The concept is to create a new and visceral aural environment, designed especially for the Ricardo Montalbán theatre.
As the movie was to the seventies, and the Broadway staging was to the nineties, Purcell and his collaborators have a new concept for the piece for this decade. Purcell said, "We envision a 'Tommy' that takes place inside of Tommy's own head and to track his experience of his story. This gives us an entirely new canvas to present this work, which has meant so much to the three generations that have come up since the album's original release."
The production will introduce high definition 3-D Sound, presented by EXP3D, a new audio system that does for sound what 3-D and its lenses does for motion pictures. The sound will inhabit a fully dimensional space, inside and outside each guest's body.
Each guest will have Bose headphones to wear, the equivalent of movie 3-D glasses for this production. Unlike conventional headphone experience, where the soundscape is a straight line between the wearer's ears, EXP3D sound gives the listener a fully dimensional room of sound with height, width, and depth.
Tommy director Brian Purcell said, "EXP3D is the best sound you'll ever see. It allows us to do Tommy in an entirely new way - and for the first time the audience will truly be inside Tommy's head as he experiences the events of the play.
The sound is designed by James Johnson, who created the EXP3D sound delivery system for this production. Johnson will take the live sound, mix it for the 3-D soundscape, and then deliver it to each audience member through the headphones, which work in conjunction with sound delivered through speakers.
Purcell said, "While most of the sound will be heard in the headphones, we will also employ theatrical sound you really can feel, just like in state-of-the-art movie theatres, that can only be delivered through conventional speakers. The speakers will also carry all of the sound of the show, so that audience members who are headphone adverse have a complete experience." Headphone distribution is provided by MagicFire Inc.
The Who's Tommy is one of the most phenomenal works of the rock era. Originally released as a two-record set in 1969, and composed by Pete Townshend, with songs contributed by Who bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon, it was the work that started a new genre - the rock opera. Since its first release, it has been continuously performed live, including the tremendously successful Broadway staging in 1993.
Tommy was inspired by and written to convey the experience of how Townsend felt after being taught by Meher Baba, a Persian man born in India who became a spiritual master and teacher and anti-drug advocate, and other writings and expressing the enlightenment he believes he received. It is a metaphorical story of different states of consciousness. Purcell said "I want to return the work to this base - and to strip down this work and return it back to the sensibility and the message of the original album from 1969 - raising awareness of the spirit."
Other cast members include Aleks Pevec as Tommy; Jenna Leigh Green, most recently Nessarose in the Los Angeles production of "Wicked"; Tom Schmid as Captain Walker; and Hank Adams as Uncle Ernie.
Brian Purcell directed "Chess," the special event at the Ford Amphitheatre last summer; it was among the most popular and highest grossing attractions in the Ford's history. As an actor, he appeared in the Broadway National Tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar," and in "Footloose" as Willard Hewitt, "Ragtime" as Younger Brother and "Evita" as Che.