REVIEW: American Idiot
I was invited to see American Idiot last night at the Orpheum Theater. I generally like Green Day but would not consider myself a huge fan. American Idiot is essentially a compilation of Green Day tracks brought to life with costumes, lights and dance. Altogether, it’s an enjoyable 90 minutes for the modern punk-rock lover; there were, however, aspects with the show that I found detracted from the overall experience.
Quite often the audience is assaulted with flashing strobe lights in attempts to replicate a rock show. Whether the goal is to overstimulate your senses or it’s just what people do these days, I found it uncomfortable on the eyes. There’s no doubt that this is truly is a punk rock musical and they clearly aim to cater to the ADHD/Ritalin generation. I also found it difficult to figure out the plot in the interludes between songs, as they are quite short and there is little dialogue or character development to allow the audience to emotionally invest in the outcome. My husband points out that this is likely intentional; that it was Armstrong’s goal to comment on the disengagement of modern youth in the face of economic and political dysfunction. The plot is ostensibly about a group of people who aimlessly wander through life. So the story is that there is no story… There is a lot of emotional expression but rarely is it directed between characters. It’s difficult to follow who the characters even were and how they fit into the bigger picture.
In any event, the acting and singing in American Idiot was fantastic. It’s my opinion that lead actor, Van Hughes, should make Billie Joe Armstrong extraordinarily jealous. Hughes really held the show and was completely believable in his character. His voice is also superb. His sound is similar enough to Armstrong’s, yet enhanced with superior vocal talent. I also really loved the arrangements. My Green Day music collection now needs to be replaced with the versions from this musical because I like them so much more.
It is impossible to either recommend or dismiss this musical as it all depends on what your expectations are. If you are looking for a musical with an emotionally-compelling storyline, American Idiot is not for you. If you would like to see a Green Day concert performed by amazing musicians, definitely consider buying tickets. Both my husband and I have a greater appreciation for Billie Joe Armstrong as a songwriter. The music really does translate well to a Broadway production. Holiday, in particular, was absolutely awesome to see performed on stage, with 21 Guns coming in a close second.
As a final note, the encore is truly amazing. I don’t want to spoil any surprises, however, so I’ll just leave it at that.
American Idiot runs through Sunday. At this time, I am not aware of any discount ticket opportunities except for student rush tickets ($25, cash only). Click here for additional ticket information.