Still, without Ernie's song (written by Entwistle), TOMMY loses it's edge. Thoe molesting and drug abuse are in the show for a reason.

Also, the things that happen to Tommy as a child, are relevent to high school kids, because they will learn (or experience) those very things anyway.

Leave the show the way it is. TOMMY is perfect for high schools the way it was written.

Andy.

Well, I'm not one for saying "Oooh-- that's inappropriate!" but I think that a lot of people would find the drugs, sadism, and cults a bit much. I don't think anyone would stop you, but you might get a few Concerned Parents calls. It might be good to cut "Acid Queen" (which is a pity, but...) and the "do you think it's all right..." number (with the cousin and uncle.)

If you're so concerned about getting phone calls from "concerned parents," then DON'T DO THE SHOW!!

Andy.

I go to a catholic school. This year we put on Tommy. We did it complete and unedited. It was probably one of the best shows we have ever done. Even the principal (who has issues with or drama department) liked it. It was one of the greatest experiences i have had in theater to date. I would say if you are thinking of doing it go for it!

Congrats on the production!

Oh, by the way, to go back to my point about "concerned parents..." The people who complain don't even bother to see the show, anyway. All they do is make the show better because more people will want to see it because of protests, etc.

Andy.

I did it as part of a "teen" production in a community theatre. The original intention was not to cut anything. We kept Acid Queen, just toned it down a little. We also kept Fiddle About but were going to change the intentions - the "fiddling," instead of abuse, was Uncle Ernie walking around the house stealing stuff. But how that would have actually come off I don't know because we ended up cutting the entire part of Uncle Ernie after our actor landed in the hospital long term a week or two before the performance.