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"Amazing
Journey"
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The pivotal song was Amazing Journey. It became the center. That song tries to tell the introduction to Tommy. But as soon as I had written that I had the shape for the piece. - Pete Townshend  The
central relationship in the story is between Tommy and Tommy so we created
multiple Tommys on stage. Then the concept of the adult reaching the
child became very valuable for the first act, and the idea of the child
reaching the adult began to function in the second act. In fact, I think
those of us who manage to stay spiritually alive have to keep the children
in us alive.- Des McAnuff, Director  Michael's
initial two entrances are on wires. First he catapults up on top of
the amoire and stands above young Tommy who faces the mirror. This sets
up the mirror as a magical device. On the second entrance he tumbles
in from high in the wings. Wayne Cilento had once as a dancer tumbled
in from above doing aerial somersaults & the Foys were quick to
embrace that idea for Tommy. This entrance literally sets up "Amazing
Journey". Later in the act he appears in a white shaft of light
through the mirrored surface, 20 feet above the stage on the truss work.-Des McAnuff  The importance of World War II for this
family is undeniable, and the Wellington bomber serves as a symbol for
the war through the entire play from the opening scene in the hanger
where the Walkers meet. In the Christmas scene the play appears as a
toy, and then again the bomber shows up huge as the back glass to a
pinball machine. It becomes a collective image that builds in the audience
mind.John Arnone, Set Designer Back to Tommy Main |