The original mods and rockers of half a century ago are maybe

showing (or disguising) some grey hairs now, but they turned out in

force to  celebrate the new Quadrophenia musical. 

So did a lot

of younger patriots, keen to see just what the culture or phenomenon

was that enveloped their parents and grandparents in the late Sixties

and Seventies, and to experience live on stage Pete Townshend’s music. 

And incidentally, to marvel at the array at the pristine mod

scooters, bristling with mirrors and lamps, ranged outside the theatre.

The show is virtually Townshend’s creation, concept, music and lyrics. 

Set

in London and Brighton, it traces the flowering of the mod  movement,

elements of which remain in today’s music and fashion. 

It explores the coming-of-age story of Jimmy - rebellious, unsettled and unfulfilled. 

No one, least of all his abusive, bullying father, understands him.

He seeks a place where he can belong, and a girl to share it with.

Restless, he takes a trip to Brighton at the time of the riots, where he meets violence and tragedy.

The message is that no one stays young forever.

The rock opera unfolds in a string of musical numbers, without  dialogue. 

The youthful cast are magnificent, but even when fully miked the orchestra swamps them. 

Intriguingly,

the four aspects of Jimmy’s character - romantic, tough guy, lunatic,

hypocrite - are portrayed simultaneously by four different actors. 

The staging and direction are inspired, but ultimately the show will stand or fall by the number of devotees of the music. 

And

as Townshend’s explains in the programme: 'It’s not youth music.  It’s

the music of the frustrated and dissatisfied looking for some sort of

musical panacea'. 

And that’s the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But

it all adds up to a couple of hours that suck you in, chew you up, and

spit you out exilerated, drained, but positively on fire.

Quadrophenia is at the Theatre Royal Plymouth until May 16.