Tommy
Produced by Out Of The Blue Performing Arts

Cast: Liam Judson, Rose Cooper, Troy Lennon, Tim Crew, Stephen Grimson, Bethany Goodlet, Aaron Davis, Jacqueline Binnion, Rianna Gates, Liam Angel, Jarryd Boyd, Ben Anderson, Sara Blackburn, David Boyce, Lauren Crew, Evin Donohoe, Keara Donohoe, Amy Wykes, Robert Hall, Lucienne Ingold, Maddi Jones, Akos Miszlai, Kelly Outzen, Tim Watson, Rosanne Zappia, Nicole Beaver, Kathleen Leary, Adrian Roberts, John Donohoe, David Leishman, Neville Ross.

Music & Lyrics: Pete Townshend
Book: Pete Townshend & Des McAnuff
Director: David Hollywood

Publicist: Troy Dodds (Troy Dodds Enterprises)

Australian Premiere: Springwood Civic Centre. Thursday, 21st August 2003.


The Lowdown:
Tommy created more talking points and controversy than any other production in Australia during 2003. The show was scheduled to open at the lavish Evan Theatre at Panthers World of Entertainment in Penrith when disaster struck - a fire destroyed the show and damaged the venue. It led to the show being cancelled by Panthers and major press coverage.

The cast, devastated by the fire, where eager to get the show on the road and ultimately it was produced in Springwood and at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre. With an extended preparation period and more money put into the show, it turned out to be a major success.


AussieTheatre.com Review:
Tommy is a vociferous production that demands attention, and with a cast of 71 energetic mostly young actors this show will leave its audiences clamouring for more. Tommy begins its journey at the Springwood Civic Centre, before moving to the Parramatta Riverside later this year. Combining a thoroughly connected ensemble cast with a predominately strong group of principals, Tommy strikes a chord with its audience and proceeds to impress them with a shock and awe campaign featuring whirling pinball machines, wild projected imagery and a strong musical component both instrumentally and vocally. A highlight is where World War Two is captured in the first four minutes of the show, both on the screen and using the cast below. The complete fusing of media and bodies is polished and leaves the audience unsure of where to focus, but thoroughly enthralled.

Rosemary Cooper’s (Mrs Walker) powerful presence on stage was all encapsulating. Cooper’s singing ability was especially highlighted in a solo number when her character, Mrs. Walker was so frustrated, that in her rage she smashes the mirror Tommy has become obsessed with looking at, allowing him to finally be released so he can see, hear and feel again. Cooper’s ability to maintain a strong connection with the audience was not so evident in Liam Judson’s (Tommy) performance. His character appeared more two-dimensional than the others, however he was able to wow his audience with the show stopping number ‘I’m Free’. Judson’s younger counterparts Stephen Grimson (Tommy 10) and Bethany Goodlet (Tommy 4) both have the ability to move the audience, while performing a primarily non-speaking role. However when required to sing, their angelic voices, haunting and powerful, continually pleaded for acknowledgement to ‘see me, touch me, feel me, heal me’.

Although the plot line revolves around the character of Tommy, the strength of this production lies with the energetic ensemble cast, who use simple elements to create clever transitions and send surging electricity around the theatre with the help of clever choreography and their dynamic voices. A hospital is created with doors and screens on wheels. The flurry of activity surrounding Tommy in a bid to find out what is wrong with him when he ceases to see, feel or talk is emphasized by the ensemble of nurses and doctors scurrying around the stage taking Tommy through an excessive amount of tests, climaxing with him aging from four to ten as he passes through each of the doors, as they are moved into a vertical row. Cousin Kevin’s gang who are played by fourteen members of the ensemble is a very strong component to the production, at first teasing Tommy mercilessly they become extremely offensive, then hailing him a sensation their mob like behaviour is thrilling to watch as he becomes a Pin Ball king despite his disabilities. Judson’s performance here is also strong, as he rides on top of the pinball machine, he encourages his younger alter ego with the song ‘I’m a Sensation’.

A fire in the Evan Theatre in Penrith earlier this year prevented this production of Tommy from being staged and many of the sets were destroyed. However this production has not lost any of its vigour in the transition. This is due to its incredible cast whose enthusiasm is contagious. The set is simple and the back screen is somewhat overused, however it is plain, that had it not been for this production’s misfortunes Tommy had the potential to be even more spectacular


Production Shots:
None Available


Further Information:
None Available