The Psychedelic Whirl: A Review of “The Who’s Tommy” at Goodman Theatre

From NewCity Stage

The biggest surprise in the engrossing staged version of “The Who’s Tommy” now at the Goodman Theatre is how strongly the work stands alone, given the indelible imprint the music by Pete Townshend and his collaborators in The Who have long had on popular culture.

Ironically, the success of the musical “Tommy” as a standalone work may have its roots in The Who’s original designs on “Tommy” as a potentially lucrative concert work. When Townshend conceived the concept album/rock opera he hoped that the work—first released as a double album—would set the group apart from the rest of the rock ‘n’ roll universe.

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