By Anthony R. Ashley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 31, 1996
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By Anthony R. Ashley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 31, 1996
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Tommy Walker, the Pinball Wizard is coming to Tucson this weekend for five live performances. If that sentence makes you think there is a pinball convention coming to the Old Pueblo, think again.
The Who's rock-opera "Tommy," is making its Arizona premiere, in a national tour, Nov. 1-3 at Centennial Hall, and is directed by Bussert.
The rock-opera originated in 1969 as a book, written by Des McAnuss (collaborating with Pete Townshend), lead to the "concept album" by the 1960s instrument and stage-destroying British band The Who. Since then, "Tommy," has evolved into a concert show, b allet and a 1970s Ken Russell film. This movie, available on video, stars Who leadman Roger Daltry as Tommy, Ann-Margret as Mrs. Walker (Tommy's mom), Elton John as the Pinball Wizard and the luscious Tina Turner as the Acid Queen.
First of all, a warning: the play and movie are very surreal, random and psychedelic, making the viewer use their mind to determine what exactly is happening.
The story starts out in World War II, when Tommy's father, Captain Walker, is killed. His mother, Mrs. Walker, hooks-up with another man and is caught in bed by the now-disfigured Capt. Walker. Mrs. Walker's new beau kills the captain, all this in front of Tommy.
The boy isolates himself from the world and becomes a mute, and he grows up misunderstood.
Mrs. Walker's beau sends him to the Acid Queen to be cured, but that doesn't work.
Tommy eventually defeats the Pinball Wizard and becomes his generation's new Messiah. This in turn leads to his demise and the death of his mother and her beau.
Songwriter Pete Townshend wrote most of the well-known songs, such as "Pinball Wizard," "Acid Queen," "See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me," and "I'm Free."
"Tommy," promises to be a very complex, high-tech production like no other in Centennial Hall history. This production includes heaps os computer-controlled lights and pieces of scenery, hydraulic lifts and a plethora of video and slide projections to ke ep the audience's attention at maximum capacity.
There will be five performances of "Tommy" at Centennial Hall from Nov. 1-3. at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $19 - $37. For more info call 621-3364.
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