Wizards of musical search for a pinball

From the archive, first published Wednesday 25th Jan 2006.

DRAMA students at Worcester Sixth Form College are racing against time to find a pinball machine so they can be the first amateur group in Britain to perform rock opera Tommy.

Teacher Gary Frost even spoke personally to Who guitarist Pete Townshend to try to get permission to perform the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy who loves to play pinball.

It would be a major coup for the college because permission to amateur groups has always been denied in the past.

But, as Mr Frost says, "You can't have Tommy without a pinball machine."

His persistence to get permission to put on the show paid off after Townshend passed him on to Music Theatre Intern-ational, which owns the rights.

Mr Frost said: "I spoke to them on many occasions to get permission, and, as luck would have it, I called them on the day they finally allowed it, so we were top of the list."

He started auditions immediately, and the stage is booked for the first three days in February, but they desperately need a pinball machine.

"We've been trying to get one since September, asking all the pubs and clubs in the area, but they just don't seem to have them anymore," said Mr Frost.

"Old ones are valuable collectors' items, new ones cost £3,000. It doesn't have to be a working one, a case would do."

A cast of 28 drama and dance students are rehearsing, and, if nobody else comes forward, the college will have to hire a machine at some expense.

First released as a rock opera concept album by The Who in 1969, Tommy went on to become a 1970s cult classic film and a groundbreaking live musical in the 1990s - receiving long runs in both New York and the West End.

The show features some of The Who's most famous hits including Pinball Wizard, The Acid Queen, and I'm Free.

In the film, the Pinball Wizard was portrayed by Elton John, who is to perform in Worcester in June.

The show at the college opens on Wednesday, February 1, for three nights. Performances are at 7.30pm and tickets can be bought from the student reception at the college on Spetchley Road priced £5, or £3 concessions.

l If you can provide a pinball machine, contact Mr Frost on 01905 362600.

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