UK Theatre Network

“Quadrophenia” is based on the album of the same name, produced by The Who in 1973.

The album has iconic status, representing the clashes between the mods and rockers in Brighton in the sixties. This was one of the first instances of mass teenage rebellion and the success of the album and subsequent film has made sure it won’t be forgotten.

The story is very basic. It is about Jimmy, a disaffected youth who rebels against his parents and his upbringing by running away to Brighton in search of ‘The Girl’. In Brighton he gets caught up in the bloody battles between the teenage gangs, whilst still trying to find the girl of his dreams.

What the plot frames is Pete Townshend’s brilliant music. Less of a musical and more of a live music video for each song of the album, the staging helps to dramatise the lyrics and the music. I had never seen the film before and had only heard snatches of the songs, but I now understand why it is considered one of the great rock albums. Such is the poetry of Townshend’s lyrics and the fantastic accompanying music.

The cast all put in a great job of bringing life to the songs. Jimmy is in fact played by four different actors, in order to show the four different sides to his character. This works well and the part is played with equal energy and charisma by Ryan O’Donnell, George Maguire, Jack Roth and Rob Kendrick. The cast is supported by a superb band, who give all the songs their full justice. Add to this Sophie Kahn’s imaginative set, which achieves the difficult task of bringing some reality to the piece.

A very different piece of theatre, but worth seeing. Even if it’s just for the music!

Listings:

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh

26 to 30 May

Tue – Sat eves 7:30pm

Fri mat 5:30pm

Sat mat 4:00pm

Tickets: £15 - £26.50

Box Office: 0131 529 6000

www.eft.co.uk

Then touring until 3 October