IT’S
been 40 years since some of the world’s biggest stars descended on Portsmouth
to film the musical Tommy.
Now,
some of those who stood behind the likes of Elton John, Eric Clapton and The
Who, have reunited at the Kings Theatre in Southsea.
About 30
extras on the film came together to share their stories with the cast of a
stage production of Tommy, to be at the theatre next month.
And with
them was the very pinball machine used in the Pinball Wizard sequence in the
film.
CCADS
theatre group director John-Paul McCrohon said he was thrilled to meet the
extras, most of whom were children or teenagers when Tommy was filmed.
He said:
‘It was four decades ago but the people who were involved in the film have such
vivid memories of it. To have the extras mingle with the cast of our show made
for a very special evening.’
Locations
used in Tommy included the Hilsea Lido, the Eastney beach huts and South Parade
Pier, which partly burnt down during filming.
Melanie
Wells, 55, of Waterlooville, was an extra in scenes filmed at the beach on
Hayling Island.
She said
stars including Oliver Reed signed a pair of jeans she was wearing.
‘He was
quite cheeky. He said “bend over” and wrote “Olly was here” on my backside.’
Ms Wells
said her mum later embroidered over the autographs so they would last, and she
then made the jeans into a skirt.
She said
Tommy inspired her to later do another film.
‘I
walked around in sunglasses and a satin jacket for a while afterwards.
‘My
friends nicknamed me “the film star” – it was all good fun.’
Joanna
Hall, of Shedfield, was in her final year of school when she worked as an extra
in scenes filmed inside the Kings.
Now 55,
Ms Hall, said: ‘Being a teenager, it was exciting to be up close to stars like
Elton John.
‘They
smashed loads of instruments on stage that night to get the right shot, but
that’s rock ‘n’ roll.’
Ms Hall
said the filming inspired her to later sing in a rock band, which she did until
she was 26.
The
production of Tommy will be at the Kings on June 19 to June 21.
Mr
McCrohon said visitors could read the extras’ stories at the Kings in an
exhibition called Tommy Past and Present.
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