The Mod delusion
Cult rock opera Quadrophenia has finally made it to the stage 30 years after its screen debut.
The Who’s iconic album was released in 1973 and was named by Rolling Stone magazine and VH1 as one of the top 100 albums of all time.
Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Ray Winstone all starred in the hit film, which captured the violence between Mods and Rockers in 1960s Brighton. Three decades later it’s finally a stage show.
To capture the four-faceted personality of main character Jimmy, the lead part is shared by four actors, including George Maguire, who plays Jimmy – Tough Guy.
“Jimmy is diagnosed as having four personalities – being quadrophenic – so we have the lunatic, the tough guy, the romantic and the hypocrite.
“Obviously, we’ve had to find ways to making it work so the audience understands that we have four actors all playing different facets of the same person – we don’t really look alike but we’ve been working hard to ensure that little ways of doing things and mannerisms are the same.
“Each time he changes there is a transformation on stage, a bit like a magic trick, but it’s very visual and the audience should get it straight away.
“It’s obviously a completely new show even though the album and film have been around for a long time, so it’s been great to be able to start this from scratch – as an actor you usually get thrown in to a part which has been done before, so it’s fantastic to be able to create this character for the stage and make it all crystal clear – especially when four of us are involved in doing it.”
Also with a big involvement in the stage show is The Who’s Pete Townshend, who has been – forgive the pun – instrumental in making the new production happen.
“It’s taken a long time, and a lot of wrangling to accept that Quadrophenia is never going to work as conventional music theatre.
“So I hope for a grand and chaotic explosion of music and chorus that revives the memories of being young in the 1960s, but also brings those memories to life in the 21st century,” he said.
“I’ve loved the original album for about 10 years. I’ve been a musician and written music and was a fan of The Who, they were a big influence for me, so to be working with Pete Townshend has really been something.
“He has been here through the rehearsal period, he wrote it when he was 24, so it really is a personal piece for him, it’s his baby, and we’ve obviously wanted to do it justice for him.
“It is daunting standing and singing his songs in front of him, and you’re never perfect from the word go, but he’s been really encouraging and we’ve worked hard at it to make him happy.
“We want to feel we’ve done him proud and added value to the album. And in terms of the finished show – we’ve got an amazing band, a great cast and a real buzz about it. I’m loving it.”
Info
Quadrophenia is at Birmingham Hippodrome from May 19 to 23. Phone 0844 338 5000.
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