Where Has Tommy FLowers Gone? A Reflection

This was a play presented by the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. I went into this play with no expectations. There was no discussion prior about the play (or maybe there was and I didn't hear it since I choose to ride with Mary in her car...got a little bus sick on the way up) I was a little tired and found the seats in the theatre to be relatively comfortable so I was a little concerned that I might fall asleep as I normally do when tired and sitting comfortable seats. The show started a little slow but quickly sped up. I found it difficult to understand, but was comfortable with the thought that we would have discussions about it class and there might be some clarity to this play. It wasn't until dinner time that we started to talk about this play and it dawned on me that Tommy might represent what we hated. The dumb blonde, using a child who had disabilities as a poster child, shopping in an elitist store like Bloomingdales. I presented my take to class but it seemed as though the consensus was that this particular person Tommy was aggravating, annoying, self centered. I didn't see it that way but they did discuss how he might represent capitalism and how he hated it but in order to funtion in today's society he had to actually buy into capitalism. Lenny brought up a good point saying that may Tommy was the child that was marginalized and left behind. The one we didn't pay attention to. That sort of made me think about the kids in Culombine.

http://www.berkshiretheatre.org/theseason/06tommy.php