Theatre Review | The Who’s music shines in Tommy

As soon as the lights turn off in Wright Hall, the audience is already in anticipation for the exciting and lively music of The Who’s Tommy.

The department of Theatre and Dance production features brilliant singing and acting, however, the lack of dialogue makes the plot hard to follow.

Originally a Broadway show, The Who’s Tommy was adapted for the UC Davis stage by Granada Artist-in-Resident Mindy Cooper. We hear the story mostly though the music and lyrics arranged by The Who’s Pete Townshend.

The play starts with a video that introduces the context of the story. The story begins in the 1940s at the brink of World War II. The husband, Captain Walker, goes to war and leaves a pregnant Mrs. Walker at home. She receives false information that he has died and has moved on to another man.

However, when Captain Walker returns, he sees Mrs. Walker and her new man together and shoots the man. Four-year-old Tommy witnesses this and goes deaf and blind. Tommy seems to become a lost cause but eventually they discover he is a pinball wizard. And from there the story takes an upswing and Tommy achieves fame and success.

The set is cleverly designed like a pinball machine to symbolize Tommy’s skill at the game. This helps tie the different acts together and emphasize the main points of the play. Additionally, the set transitions between scenes are very smooth and flow easily.

The smooth flow of the play is also achieved by the music and acting in the play. The energetic acting keeps the audience engaged in what is going on. In particular, the two children who play Tommy as a young boy are excellent. Matthew Dunivan, who plays the adult Tommy, is outstanding to watch. His singing and acting are very passionate.

There is also a fair amount of humor in the play, particularly from Uncle Ernie and Cousin Kevin. In a particular scene that stands out, Uncle Ernie is left alone to take care of Tommy. There is no way the audience can keep from laughing at his seemingly drunken antics. The scenes where the teenagers take Tommy to play pinball is also hilarious. The teenagers’ zany behavior is a sight to see, and the ensemble acts and sings well.

The chemistry between all the actors is strong. One example is between Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker; their chemistry helps the audience see how well they both act their roles.

It is the music that makes the show unique. The live band on stage that performed the songs is almost flawless and keeps the show energized for the entire two hours.

The singing is phenomenal and the energy that all the performers have draws the audience in. At the end of the play, the cast members come out into the audience and sing their last song, and it’s truly a treat. We almost feel like we are in an actual Broadway show.

Although the play was very energetic and fun to watch, the plot was very hard to follow. It is easy to get lost in what is going on. We almost question if there is a specific plot or not because of the lack of dialogue, as the story is told through the song lyrics. Therefore we are often left confused at key points in the story.

Despite this, audiences can grasp the main theme of the play, which is to be grateful for what you have and to be yourself. The play ends on a touching note with Tommy realizing the importance of family, which is questioned several times throughout the play.

Although there are many moments when the play can feel very confusing, the energy of the music, singing and acting makes this show worth seeing. The audience can’t help being drawn into the show and rooting for Tommy.

The show will play again tonight, Friday, Saturday at 8 p.m. and will have its final show on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online or at the Main Theatre box office.

PAAYAL ZAVERI can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.