RANDY SINGS TOMMY
Last weekend my friends and I took our yearly trip to the Berkshires to see Randy in the rock opera "Tommy". We were at the Friday night preview, the opening night on Saturday and the Monday night performance all viewed from the first row center just behind and above the excellent orchestra in the pit below. It was a great vantage point.
In preparation I rented the Ken Russell movie which I had seen years ago. I had forgotten how much I disliked it so I was hoping the stage version and in particular Randy's performance as Tommy would change my mind about this rock opera. To my delight, I found this version of Tommy so much better and Randy was absolutely electric in the role. I had been concerned that James Barry's role as Captain Walker would be small as he is the one killed in the movie. I was happy to see that in this version he is the one who shoots Mrs. Walker's lover so he lives to be a major part of the story. In addition to Randy, James Barry and Jenny Powers as Mrs. Walker are outstanding and I was in awe of Paige Scott, a lovely little girl, and Connor McNinch as the young Tommys for their ability to look catatonic as they are tossed around the stage by the ensemble.
From the moment I heard Randy in one of the side balcony boxes singing Amazing Journey as the narrator, I was spellbound by his rich and beautiful singing voice. He also sings a haunting See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me from the same place several times. Throughout the first act, he and the young Tommys are dressed all in white, Randy in slacks and a long sleeve sweater. Several times Randy is in the balcony box and then comes from the audience to narrate and observe from the stage as the action enfolds.
When young Tommy first plays pinball, Randy is on the scaffolding going through the same motions of playing pinball. It's very effective. In the second act when he once again can see, hear and speak, he sings I'm Free. He appears in his rock star outfit of silver and bangles and a bare chest sitting atop his pinball machine reading his newspaper reviews and speaking in a cockney accent. He looks fantastic. Later he is in the white and silver outfit which fits his fine form like a glove. This production has lots of choreographed dancing by the ensemble several of which perform other roles. It's a huge cast. Also outstanding are Christopher Gurr as Uncle Ernie and Angela Robinson as the Acid Queen.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the whole production and the fact that I liked it enough to see it again and again. I can't say enough about Randy's abilities as a singer in a musical. I have seen him sing in POP as Andy Warhol, in Wicked and several of his Joe's Pub performances live but they pale in comparison to his Tommy. Each performance ends in a rocking finale that gets the audience clapping and singing along and finally on their feet for a standing O. The excitement is contagious and you leave feeling happy and alive.
The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield is so much larger than the BTF Main Stage and the Unicorn but it seemed that it was filled all the nights I went. There was a huge tent outside in the parking lot for the after party to accommodate the big cast and all the theatregoers. Brian Beluka was the DJ for the event which was the first after party to have music. Since Randy did not appear for quite some time, I was able to talk with James Barry who is always friendly and accommodating to fans, Uncle Ernie and several of the young men in the ensemble who were delighted to be praised. Young Paige was such a darling little girl dressed in princess finery and said this was her 4th play. I also got to chat with David Schramm who was Pozzo to Randy's Lucky in Waiting for Godot and he was so excited about Randy's performance. He referred to Randy as his "co-star" and thought he was so talented that he could be a rock star. I was able to see and get a picture of their reunion and Randy was delighted to see him. I saw a few of his other co-stars from past productions over the course of the 3 days. When Randy finally arrived, he spent quite a bit of time signing autographs and taking pictures and posed with the young Tommys. I did get a minute to ask him if he knew that POP was coming to Pittsburgh next year which he did but he said he couldn't do it here. I was disappointed as I have told so many of my friends here of his Andy Warhol and wanted them to experience Randy's talent.
On Monday night, Scott Lowell came to see the performance and chatted with fans in the theatre lobby. He remembered meeting my friends and me when he did The Heidi Chronicles several years ago and stood in a light rain and talked to us for about 15 minutes. Always friendly and great with the fans, I got another picture with him. He is a real charmer. There was a talk back after the Monday night performance but though almost all the cast was onstage, Randy was a no-show. I imagine he split with Scott after the curtain. Jenny Powers did not participate either but I did get to talk to her later in the lobby and she is a lovely lady.
This was truly a great show and it's a shame the run is so short. I could see it again and again for the pure enjoyment of hearing Randy belt out a song. He continues to amaze.
In preparation I rented the Ken Russell movie which I had seen years ago. I had forgotten how much I disliked it so I was hoping the stage version and in particular Randy's performance as Tommy would change my mind about this rock opera. To my delight, I found this version of Tommy so much better and Randy was absolutely electric in the role. I had been concerned that James Barry's role as Captain Walker would be small as he is the one killed in the movie. I was happy to see that in this version he is the one who shoots Mrs. Walker's lover so he lives to be a major part of the story. In addition to Randy, James Barry and Jenny Powers as Mrs. Walker are outstanding and I was in awe of Paige Scott, a lovely little girl, and Connor McNinch as the young Tommys for their ability to look catatonic as they are tossed around the stage by the ensemble.
From the moment I heard Randy in one of the side balcony boxes singing Amazing Journey as the narrator, I was spellbound by his rich and beautiful singing voice. He also sings a haunting See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me from the same place several times. Throughout the first act, he and the young Tommys are dressed all in white, Randy in slacks and a long sleeve sweater. Several times Randy is in the balcony box and then comes from the audience to narrate and observe from the stage as the action enfolds.
When young Tommy first plays pinball, Randy is on the scaffolding going through the same motions of playing pinball. It's very effective. In the second act when he once again can see, hear and speak, he sings I'm Free. He appears in his rock star outfit of silver and bangles and a bare chest sitting atop his pinball machine reading his newspaper reviews and speaking in a cockney accent. He looks fantastic. Later he is in the white and silver outfit which fits his fine form like a glove. This production has lots of choreographed dancing by the ensemble several of which perform other roles. It's a huge cast. Also outstanding are Christopher Gurr as Uncle Ernie and Angela Robinson as the Acid Queen.
I was so pleasantly surprised by the whole production and the fact that I liked it enough to see it again and again. I can't say enough about Randy's abilities as a singer in a musical. I have seen him sing in POP as Andy Warhol, in Wicked and several of his Joe's Pub performances live but they pale in comparison to his Tommy. Each performance ends in a rocking finale that gets the audience clapping and singing along and finally on their feet for a standing O. The excitement is contagious and you leave feeling happy and alive.
The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield is so much larger than the BTF Main Stage and the Unicorn but it seemed that it was filled all the nights I went. There was a huge tent outside in the parking lot for the after party to accommodate the big cast and all the theatregoers. Brian Beluka was the DJ for the event which was the first after party to have music. Since Randy did not appear for quite some time, I was able to talk with James Barry who is always friendly and accommodating to fans, Uncle Ernie and several of the young men in the ensemble who were delighted to be praised. Young Paige was such a darling little girl dressed in princess finery and said this was her 4th play. I also got to chat with David Schramm who was Pozzo to Randy's Lucky in Waiting for Godot and he was so excited about Randy's performance. He referred to Randy as his "co-star" and thought he was so talented that he could be a rock star. I was able to see and get a picture of their reunion and Randy was delighted to see him. I saw a few of his other co-stars from past productions over the course of the 3 days. When Randy finally arrived, he spent quite a bit of time signing autographs and taking pictures and posed with the young Tommys. I did get a minute to ask him if he knew that POP was coming to Pittsburgh next year which he did but he said he couldn't do it here. I was disappointed as I have told so many of my friends here of his Andy Warhol and wanted them to experience Randy's talent.
On Monday night, Scott Lowell came to see the performance and chatted with fans in the theatre lobby. He remembered meeting my friends and me when he did The Heidi Chronicles several years ago and stood in a light rain and talked to us for about 15 minutes. Always friendly and great with the fans, I got another picture with him. He is a real charmer. There was a talk back after the Monday night performance but though almost all the cast was onstage, Randy was a no-show. I imagine he split with Scott after the curtain. Jenny Powers did not participate either but I did get to talk to her later in the lobby and she is a lovely lady.
This was truly a great show and it's a shame the run is so short. I could see it again and again for the pure enjoyment of hearing Randy belt out a song. He continues to amaze.