 That deaf, dumb, blind kid sure plays a mean pinball, but to
know how The Pinball Wizard came to be, you have to hear and see the whole
story. And that’s the story written by Pete Townshend and The Who in what
became the first “rock opera” in 1969, and then transformed in 1993 to the Tony
Award-winning Broadway musical with a new song by Townshend and rewrites with
Des McAnuff at the La Jolla Playhouse. And now it’s back near Broadway, just a
little up the Hudson in Irvington where the Broadway Training Center of
Westchester recently turned the Irvington Town Hall Theater into a giant,
rockin’ pinball machine.
Husband-and-wife team Jason Brantman and Fiona
Santos co-direct the show and run the organization that allows young
artists to work with and learn from established professionals. Those
professionals include some great designers like Newell Kring who did
sets for LaGuardia Arts and who creates a cool set with strings of enormous
mirrored pinball balls slashing across a background that features large screens
used alternately as mirrors and as screens for slide projections that are used
judiciously and effectively (World War II, a dartboard, x-rays, the flash of an
important photo). It’s all done at odd angles that match the confusion of
Tommy’s life. David Lovett’s lighting effects add a sort of rock concert
feel to the show. And Fiona Santos’s fantastic band completes that rock concert
effect with energy and precision.
The great visuals created and high production values are complemented by a good cast
of mostly sixth to tenth graders who demonstrate especially strong rock vocals and dynamic stage
presence. Leading the way is grown-up Tommy played by the charismatic Arra
Gentile who comforts his/her younger selves in the form of 4-year-old Tommy
(Brittany Brown) and 10-year-old Tommy (Brianna Gallo) as they
are blindly, calmly, and silently subjected to all kinds of torments. Arra
commands the stage for her big solos Sensation and I’m Free as
Tommy celebrates his newfound celebrity and tries to inspire others with his
story.
 Tommy’s family is more than a little dysfunctional, and well
portrayed. Blair Brownstein is Mrs. Walker, with Blair creating a comforting but
frustrated mom who seems unprepared for motherhood and makes a lot of bad
decisions along with her husband. Her frustration reaches a breaking point in Tommy
Can You Hear Me?, where Blair shines vocally and dramatically. Daniel
Polonsky is his father, Captain Walker, whose frustration builds faster
with his inability to fix his son despite numerous efforts (some more sensible
than others). Jesse Deen is a troubled and creepy Uncle Ernie who
becomes an alcoholic after notification of his brother’s “death,” and who Fiddles
About with young Tommy when the parents ask him to babysit. Matthew
DiMona is Tommy’s slightly older Cousin Kevin – a sadistic bad boy who likes to
mess with his “freak” cousin who can’t complain about the mistreatment,
inviting his gang of friends in on the fun.
As it turns out, it’s that tormenting that leads to
the discovery of Tommy’s pinball prowess, leading in turn to Matthew DiMona
and his gang helping turn their freak into a celebrity with the show’s
signature song – Pinball Wizard. The cast nails it with great energy,
singing, and choreography (Aaron Salazar). Other good cameos come from Clara
Reyes as a gyrating gypsy claiming she can cure young Tommy, and Sarah
Sanders as Sally Simpson who falls (literally) for Tommy so long as he’s a
bigger-than-life superstar.
Performs November 16 - 18, 2007.
Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre
~ Cast ~
Lad/Judge: Marie Baldassarre
Allied Soldier/Lead Inspector: Nicole Baschinsky
4-Year-Old Tommy: Brittany Brown
Specialist Asst./Lead Reporter: Stephanie Brown
Mrs. Walker: Blair Brownstein
Lover/Hawker/DJ: Eliot Cohen
Uncle Ernie: Jesse Deen
Lad: Isabella DeLisi
Cousin Kevin: Matthew DiMona
10-Year-Old Tommy: Brianna Gallo
Tommy: Arra Gentile
Lad: Emmy Heyman
Lad: Ava Leoncavallo
Officer/Psychiatrist/Barrister: Nina Lerner
Nurse/Lead Doctor: Sofia Linden
Specialist/Officer/Barrister: Jenna Lowry
 Minister/Mr. Simpson: George McCann
Captain Walker: Daniel Polonsky
Gypsy: Clara Reyes
Lad: Marquito "Fly" Rodriguez
Sally Simpson: Sarah Sanders
Minister's Wife/Mrs. Simpson: Sara (Shom) Weiss
Allied Soldier/Psychiatrist Asst.: Hailey Wynn
Young Kid/News Vendor: Nicole Arnold
Director: Jason Brantman and Fiona Santos
Musical Director: Fiona Santos
Choreographer: Aaron Salazar
Lighting Designer: David Lovett
Scenic Designer: Newell Kring
Costume Designer: Fiona Santos
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