WHEREVER this rock musical is performed this beautifully-restored theatre alone can claim to be its’ spiritual home.
Along with the pier, burned down during filming, and other local locations, several iconic scenes from the movie were filmed there and although Roger Daltrey and Co didn’t appear the original pinball machine did.
Sue Rourke and director John- Paul McCrohon gave impassioned performances as the parents of Young Tommy (well-played by Laurence Coqueral), tragically affected by witnessing domestic violence.
Their duet I Believe My Own Eyes was a feature.
Kevin Redfern (suitably malevolent as predatory Uncle Ernie) and Matt Sackman (sadistic Cousin Kevin) both contributed impressively but the second-act belonged to Shaun Ridley as Teenage Tommy.
Ridley’s assured vocals soared effortlessly and crystal-clear above Daf Hughes’s driving onstage rock band and the roaring finale prompted a well-deserved standing ovation.
The set worked well with innovative lighting and the dance and crowd scenes were wellchoreographed (Lydia Thorne).
Rock on Tommy!
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