'Tommy' gets the ReVision treatment

For a city as entwined with rock 'n' roll culture as Asbury Park, it's only fitting that the city is now playing host to the preeminent rock opera: "The Who's 'Tommy.'"

Presented by ReVision Theatre in association with Theatre C, the production is being held in the Carousel House on Ocean Avenue, and the show's run has recently been extended through July 31. With three extra performances now added to the show's schedule, take note: if you're a fan of classic rock or looking for a fine night of local theater, you owe it to yourself to see this show.

As a lifelong fan of the Who, I've always had mixed feelings about "Tommy"; while the band's original 1969 album is undeniably a landmark work, to modern ears parts of it can come across as bloated and/or dated. And while the 1975 "Tommy" film directed by Ken Russell features some eye-catching sequences and a few stand-out performances, including those by Elton John and Neptune's own Jack Nicholson, it's mostly a joyless and gaudy exercise that should be more fun than it is.

All that being said, the production by ReVision Theatre now playing in the Carousel House is the "Tommy" I've been waiting for; sticking closely to the parts of the story that have always worked (the music) and fixing the elements that didn't (the slack stretches of the story, especially towards the end of the album and film), this production proves that the live stage is where "Tommy" belonged all along.

Much credit for the show's success should to go the technical crew, including director Carlos Armesto, scenic designer Daniel Zimmerman and lighting designer Brian Tovar: the stark, minimalist aesthetic they went with for the show was a bold and successful choice that made great use of the performance space at the Carousel House. The artful and evocative bare-bones design also provided the wall-to-wall music, ably performed by the strong ensemble cast and the show's band, full room to breathe and take life.

Remaining performances for "The Who's 'Tommy'" are tonight (July 23), Saturday (July 24), Sunday (July 25) and July 29, 30 and 31. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 7 p.m. on Sunday. For tickets and more information, call (732) 455-3059 or visit ReVision Theatre's official website.