'Quadrophenia' is resurrected, but why?

By Al Brumley

Dallas Morning News

NEW YORK — Here's a prediction: In five years, Pete Townshend's Broadway production of "Quadrophenia" will hit the stage at theaters throughout the country.

You just know it's going to happen, as sure as there are balding, lunatic air-guitar players out there willing to pony up $75 for a cheap seat.

Townshend, along with fellow Who-meisters John Entwistle and Roger Daltrey, took the next baby-step toward that seemingly inescapable conclusion this week night at Madison Square Garden with a resurrected in-concert version of "Quadrophenia."

As a half-forgotten two-record chronicle of teen-age angst, "Quadrophenia" is one of Townshend's best projects. Jimmy, the confused protagonist caught between the Mods and the Rockers, is much easier to identify with than a deaf, dumb and blind kid who plays pinball, becomes a religious icon and induces his mother to roll around in pork 'n' beans.

And unlike the whining punk in Green Day's "Basket Case" ("neurotic to the core, no doubt about it"), Jimmy doesn't revel in his mental miasma. He's looking for a way out and, in his own teenage way, is asking some pretty good questions.

The Who performed "Quadrophenia" live about 30 times in the early '70s, but the technology of the day made it a fairly undoable project.

Now, with digital synths, a horn section (including a Sousaphone), extra percussion and help on guitar, they've got the live sound down perfectly.

Which leaves us with the question: Does the world really need a live version of "Quadrophenia"?

There were some undeniably magic moments Tuesday night: Townshend shrieking, "He only comes out when I drink my gin!";

MUSIC REVIEW What: The Who's rock opera 'Quadrophenia.'

When/where: 8 p.m. tonight, Saturday through Monday at Madison Square Garden, Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd streets, Manhattan.

Tickets: $30, $40 and $65. 1-212-465-6741 or Ticketmaster at 1-212-307-7171.

Entwistle's bass solo on "5:15"; the almost orgasmic release of tension as Jimmy finally relents and implores love to reign o'er him.

But the 90-minute show lagged noticeably halfway through, with too much time spent on "Is It in My Head?" and "I've Had Enough."

Daltrey seemed almost dwarfed by the music. During "The Real Me" he started singing the third verse four bars too early.

And Townshend remained mostly in the background, playing acoustic guitar and leaving the electric licks to Geoff Whitehorn.

A few guests helped keep things interesting: Billy Idol as the Bell Boy; Gary Glitter as the Godfather, looking like a cross between TV's Kramer and fat Elvis.

And Zak Starkey, son of Ringo ("I'm a mocker") Starr, proved to be the best replacement for Keith Moon yet.

But as a whole, the show seemed disjointed, even with videos playing almost nonstop and narrator Phil Daniels trying to fill in the cracks of the story between songs. He almost had to shout over the crowd's angry exhortations for him to "shut up!"

Ultimately, Jimmy's question, "Why should I care?", sung several times during the show by Townshend, took on an ironic, unintended meaning.