Victorian Opera Has Delivered A Stunning New Production of ‘The Who’s Tommy’ - Noise11.com
Matt Verevis as Tommy in the 2022 Victorian Opera production of Tommy photo by Jeff Busby

Matt Verevis as Tommy in the 2022 Victorian Opera production of Tommy photo by Jeff Busby

Victorian Opera Has Delivered A Stunning New Production of ‘The Who’s Tommy’

by Paul Cashmere on February 23, 2022

in News

After two years of pandemic delays The Victorian Opera’s production of The Who’s Tommy has premiered in Melbourne and it is stunning.

What sets the Victorian Opera’s Tommy apart from previous productions is the inclusion of dialogue, screens and visuals for the audience to easily follow the story. With the musical ensemble on stage with the cast, the words complete the music.

The cast has been perfectly curated. Paul Capsis as The Acid Queen is spectacular. The Acid Queen is a one song role best known by Tina Turner in the 1975 Ken Russell movie and Patti Labelle in the 1989 live performance in Los Angeles. Paul Capsis takes that one song and owns the stage for its duration.

Paul Capsis as The Acid Queen in the 2022 Victorian Opera production of Tommy - photo by Jeff Busby Paul Capsis as The Acid Queen in the 2022 Victorian Opera production of Tommy – photo by Jeff Busby

 

Two of Australia’s most profound actors play the principal characters of Tommy’s mother and father. Matt Hetherington, who plays Captain Walker, has appeared in ‘Hair’ (2003), ‘The Full Monty’ (2004) , ‘Shane Warne The Musical’ (2008) and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ (2009). Amy Lehpamer as also appeared in ‘Shane Warne The Musical’ and ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ as well as her starring role of Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ (2015) and ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ (2017).

The 2022 Australian Cast is:

Narrator / Tommy Mat Verevis
Captain Walker Matt Hetherington
Mrs. Walker Amy Lehpamer
Cousin Kevin Vincent Hooper
Uncle Ernie Kanen Breen
The Gypsy (Acid Queen) Paul Capsis

The original album by The Who was released in 1969. ‘Tommy’ was a rock record performed by The Who initially as part of their set. It was first developed into a rock opera in Seattle in 1971 and orchestrated in 19972. Ken Russell gave the story a visual with the 1975 movie and in 1992 Tommy became a Broadway musical.

The story covers 1940 to the early 1960s. Captain Walker, Tommy’s father is sent to war and goes missing. When he returns years later, Tommy’s mother has moved on and has a new boyfriend Frank who is killed by Captain Walker upon his return. Tommy witnesses the killing and withdraws into himself, shutting his senses making him death, dumb and blind to the world. (This show is based on the original album story. In the Ken Russell movie version Frank kills Captain Walker).

As he ages he is abused by a pedophile uncle and a sadistic cousin. Doctors try to bring Tommy out of his inner-self which eventually happens and Tommy becomes “a sensation”.

Fun fact: The Who’s Pete Townshend wrote the song ‘Sensation’ about a girl he met on The Who’s 1968 Australian tour.

The Victorian Opera had a massive have taken one of the first rock opera’s and done it justice. (The Pretty Things ‘Sorrow’ was the first ever rock opera but The Who’s Tommy was before ‘Jesus Christ Superstar). The story is easy to follow and somewhat tragic at the same time. ‘Tommy’ is not a feel good show. It tells a dark tale of a tragic life but it also has a message of hope.

The Victorian Opera Tommy photo by Jeff Busby The Victorian Opera Tommy photo by Jeff Busby

Tommy is on at The Palais Theatre until 1 March 2022.

Tommy dates are:

Tuesday 22 February, 7:30pm
Wednesday 23 February, 7:30pm
Thursday 24 February, 7:30pm
Friday 25 February, 7:30pm
Saturday 26 February, 1:00pm
Saturday 26 February, 7:30pm
Monday 28 February, 7:30pm
Tuesday 1 March, 7:30pm

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Bob Kuban
Bob Kuban (The Cheater) Dead at 84

Bob Kuban only had one hit. ‘The Cheater’ by Bob Kuban and the In-Men had a hit in both the USA and Australia with the song in the 1966.

9 hours ago
Bob Dylan A Complete Unknown
Bob Dylan A Complete Unknown Fact Check

The Bob Dylan biopic ‘A Complete Unknown’ is a remarkable telling of the rise to fame of the legendary Bob Dylan but like all movies based on real life, liberties were taken to fit the story into one two-hour and 20-minute capsule.

1 day ago
Beatles Yellow Submarine Crocs
Crocs To Release Beatles Yellow Submarine Footwear

With Crocs your toes will all live in a yellow Submarine soon. Crocs are about to release two editions of footwear based on The Beatles classic 1968 animated movie ‘Yellow Submarine’.

3 days ago
Dionne Warwick at Hamer Hall Melbourne 16 January 2025 photo by Winston Robinson
The Legendary Dionne Warwick Performs Her Final Ever Melbourne Show

At age 84 and after more than 60 years in the music business, the legend Dionne Warwick will retire after one last world tour. Last night, she farewelled Melbourne Australia as part of her ‘One Last Time’ tour.

4 days ago
Rolling Stones No 2
The Rolling Stones No 2 Turns 60

‘The Rolling Stones No. 2’, the second UK release for The Rolling Stones turns 60 this week (15 January 1965).

January 14, 2025
Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band perform at AAMI Park on Thursday 2 February 2017. Photo Ros O'Gorman
Bruce Springsteen Pays Tribute To Sam Moore

Bruce Springsteen has paid his respects to Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame who passed away on Friday at age 89.

January 13, 2025
Sam Moore photo by Jeremy Westby
Soul Legend Sam Moore of Sam & Dave Dies At Age 89

Sam Moore, the legendary Stax/Atlantic Records singer of Sam & Dave fame, has died from complications to surgery at the age of 89.

January 11, 2025