The Who’s Tommy. Absence of vocal clarity creates a cacophony of sound.
Photo: Alan Dean.
Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. Music and lyrics by Pete Townshend.Additional music and lyrics by John Entwhistle and Keith Moon. Orpheus Musical Theatre Society
Tommy, can you hear me? Too often, we cannot hear your story with any clarity. Instead, we are bombarded with a cacophony of sound. Although we see interesting projections, bright lights and colours, we cannot distinguish the words, whether spoken or sung.
Despite — or perhaps because of — the high decibel level of the Orpheus Musical Theatre Society production of The Who’s Tommy, there are only a few occasions when there is any vocal clarity in musical numbers or speeches throughout the rock opera.
While director Michael Gareau’s production is well conceived and, there are some excellent moments, particularly in the early sequences, presentation is frequently dogged by ongoing sound issues. Additional confusion is created when the young and then the adult Tommy sit cross-legged rocking repeatedly in a movement most often associated with some forms of autism. (The catatonic state that is supposed to be Tommy’s situation is more usually described as involving no motion at all.)
A few of the performers do bring vocal clarity to their performances. Ella Samojlenko, as the 10-year-old Tommy, is absolutely clear for her moment in the sun. Bryan Jesmer, as Tommy’s Uncle Ernie, delivers the unpleasant Fiddle About with great clarity and most of the pieces by Erika Séguin, as Tommy’s mother, are understandable. But despite having an experienced musical director in Brian Boggs, such numbers as the Gypsy’s Acid Queen degenerate into one long scream and it would be difficult for anyone unfamiliar with the storyline (thin as it is) to understand without the aid of the synopsis in the program.
Tommy, based on a 1969 album by The Who, follows the journey of the boy, from catatonic state to freedom and fame. Tommy, apparently blind, deaf and dumb after looking in a mirror and seeing his father shoot his mother’s lover, finds a way to connect with the world through pinball. Abused by other family members, he finally breaks free only after the mirror is shattered.
The good news about this high-energy production is to be seen in the coming together of the ensemble through the choreography of Andrea Black, the quality of John Solman’s lighting and the sparkle of the costumes by Susan Cole and Pauline Doggett.
If Gareau’s goal was to emphasize the contrast between the horrors of the early stages of Tommy’s life and his later success, the production works. But it would be far more effective if it were consistently understandable.
The Who’s Tommy continues at Centrepointe Theatre to June 12.
|
Director |
Michael Gareau |
|
Musical Director |
Brian Boggs |
|
Choreographer |
Andréa Black |
|
Technical Director |
Murray Doggett |
|
Set Designer |
Christy Bindhardt |
|
Lighting Designer |
John Solman |
|
Sound Designer |
John Cybanski |
|
Costume Designer |
Susan Cole, Pauline Doggett |
|
Cast: |
|
Mrs. Walker |
Erika Séguin |
|
Captain Walker |
Darren Bird |
|
Uncle Ernie |
Bryan Jesmer |
|
Narrator/Tommy, age 18 |
Jeremy Sanders |
|
Tommy, age 10 |
Ella Samojlenko |
|
Tommy, age 4 |
Lauren Samojlenko |
|
Minister/ Judge |
Jim Tanner |
|
Minister’s Wife/Head Nurse |
Laura Burk |
|
Lover/Harmonica Player |
Andrew Galligan |
|
Gypsy/Nurse |
Beverley Soifer |
|
Specialist/Kevin’s Father |
Marc Reside |
|
Assistant/Local Lass |
Jasmine Lee |
|
Hawker/Ensemble |
Axandre Lemours |
|
Sally Simpson/Local Lass |
Hannah Grant |
|
Mr. Simpson/Ensemble |
Rick Burk |
|
Mrs. Simpson/Nurse |
Alexandra Uhlenberg |
|
Cousin Kevin/Local Lad |
Morgan Couglan |
|
Local Lad/Pinball Soloist/Officer/Ensemble |
Bebe Brunjes |
|
Local Lad/Pinball Soloist/Officer/Ensemble |
Jamie Rice |
|
Local Lad/Soldier/Soloist/D.J./Ensemble |
Jason Wong |
|
Local Lad/Soldier/Ensemble |
Michael Moreau |
|
Local Lad/Ensemble |
Brandon Nguyen |
|
Ensemble and bits |
Bryn Orth-Lashley |
|
Local Lass/Nurse |
Katie Shapiro |
|
Local Lass/Ensemble |
Samantha Clarke |
|
Local Lass/Ensemble |
Rachel Moore |
|
Ensemble and bits |
Jillian Conway |
|
Kevin’s Mother/Ensemble |
Emily Samojlenko |
ORCHESTRA
|
Conductor |
Brian Boggs |
|
French Horn |
Keith Estabrooks |
|
Keyboard |
Wendy Berkelaar |
|
Keyboard |
Paul Legault |
|
Keyboard |
Robin Pitre |
|
Acoustic & Electric Guitar |
Craig Kennedy |
|
Acoustic & Electric Guitar |
Pete Foret |
|
Electric Bass |
Tom McMahon |
|
Drums |
Pierre Huneault |
|
Contractor |
Drum Hudson |