Theatre Review

Eleanor Pearson
21 June 2015

Tommy’s Amazing Musical Journey

Rocking the audience at the end of a show is a rare talent. Mosman Musical Society achieved this in their latest musical The Who’s Tommy.
Tommy’s is a brave journey for a musical director to take, even in this era. The hero is deaf, dumb and blind for much of the story. Using the adult Tommy as narrator, when re-enacting his troubled childhood overcomes this dilemma.

Originally a concept album, Tommy, was largely envisaged by The Who’s guitarist Pete Townshend back in the late sixties. In his album, and the rock musical that developed from it, Townshend pulls no punches. Themes in Tommy include violence in the home, murder, strained family relationships, child molestation, drug use, bullying, the daily challenges faced by people with disabilities (and their families), and the fickle nature of celebrity.

The Who's Tommy
In 1969 these issues were very real, but not discussed openly. They were also generally not the themes you’d expect to see in a musical, but perhaps in a seventies rock musical the rules of engagement changed.


Mosman Musical Society’s staging is minimalistic, however, a real Bally vintage pinball machine was sourced. Director Anthony Young’s vision quickly becomes apparent. He wants to keep it simple, but authentic.
In a rock musical, it’s about the rock music. However, sometimes the volume of the singers’ voices needs to carry more over the band. In the score there is plenty of latitude for a guitarist to shine, possibly an indication of guitarist Townshend’s input. At the very end there’s also space for the band to go on playing after the cast have taken their bows (to a standing ovation in some cases). Kudos should go to the musical director Jessica Manning, who is also on her feet conducting for the entire production.
Tim Garnham, Oliver Barbarich, and Charlie Jackson, are each great in their portrayals of Tommy at different ages. Garnham’s energy is infectious throughout, and the stoicism of the younger Tommys while on stage nothing short of admirable. When the three of them sang together, See Me, Feel Me, it brought goose bumps to this particular audience member.

Special mention also to James Parbery for his nuanced portrayal of the thoroughly creepy and exploitative Uncle Ernie, and to Daisy Lawrance Johnson who plays Tommy’s mother with conviction (particularly at the critical moment he regains his senses).  Choreographer Lisa Frisina also brings her expertise to the production with some impressive big ensemble cast dance numbers.
Zenith Theatre
Season:  19 June - 27 June 
Address:  McIntosh Street & Railway Street, Chatswood NSW 2067
See the Preview for The Who's Tommy Here