"THE WHO'S TOMMY" RUNS THROUGH JULY 19

WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison Street, Forest Park, Ill.

COST: $20 Friday; $24 Saturday and Sunday

FYI: (708) 771-0700 or CIRCLE-THEATRE.ORG

Like the main character Tommy in The Who's rock opera masterpiece, the actors portraying him on stage sure play a mean pinball. Now granted, watching actor Alex Turner (Tommy, age 10) discover his brilliance as a pinball wizard takes a little imagination from the audience, but it is worth the trouble.

Circle Theatre has embarked on a massive undertaking with its current run of "The Who's Tommy," a JEFF Award winner. A spectacle of song and dance, Circle has managed to transplant Pete Townshend's almost two-decades old Broadway musical to a tiny stage.

"Tommy" tells the story of an abused boy in post-WWII England, rendered mute after he witnesses a crime. Abuse from family and neighbors soon follows - not suitable for the five young kids sitting in the front row Saturday night - but Tommy is saved after he falls in love with pinball.

A combination of The Who's timeless hits, 18 actors singing and dancing, and a small space produce manic moments at some points in the show, but director Jeffrey Cass has done a great job of keeping the tempo moving. (And the cast gives the show an exciting edge by helping tell the story through scenery and prop changes.)

Unfortunately, moments of overacting by a few members of the cast jump out, and are even magnified in such a small, yet welcoming, space.

The main cast is great and performances from Michelle Pickett and Eric Lindahl as Tommy’s parents steal the show. But it is truly the music that takes the lead. Playing The Who's classic songs, such as "Pinball Wizard" and "Sensation," the small band is able to sound much larger at times, and never stops throughout the two-hour production.

All in all, "Tommy" is truly a rocking good time. (Just leave the kids at home.)