When word spread that Green Day's 'American Idiot' (the musical) was actually going to exist, and creative control stayed with the band, fans of the iconic punk rockers knew the show wouldn’t be the usual Disney-fied storytelling.
Green Day aren’t known for pulling punches, and there was little doubt the tradition wouldn’t continue in ‘American Idiot’. The music would rock hard, of course. But could gritty storytelling, caustic political commentary, and a focus on the darker corners of society really work as a musical?
The short answer is yes. ‘American Idiot’ is staggering in its ability to take the forgotten, even taboo stories, and seek out the flickering remnants of hope in the darkest nights of the soul.
Johnny, Wil, and Tunny are dreamers sick of small-town despair, ready to run towards something new. But though they’d hoped to rock the world together, life has other plans. Wil, forced to decide between chasing dreams and fatherhood, stays behind as Tunny and Johnny make their escape.
‘American Idiot’ is political, crass, and hell-bent on brutal contemplation of the rage and the romanticism of a generation at war with the ideology of its predecessors. It’s no surprise they’ve had a field day with Trump’s election winning jingoism, and their inclusion adds an uncomfortable reality to the proceedings. Dystopian-esque storytelling feels a little too realistic these days.
But if there was ever going to be a fatal flaw to the idea of a rock-catalogue musical, it’d be the high likelihood of fans hating anyone trying to fill Billy Joe Armstrong’s Converse shoes. Green Day are iconic, and asking anyone to try and step into such beloved songs is a huge ask. And yet, the cast here have pulled it off seemingly effortlessly. The six lead performers all bring a new edge to their respective songs that’ll likely leave you racing to the merch stalls. But it’s Phoebe Panaretos’ Whatsername that steals almost every scene she enters.
The only character able to stand ground against Whatsername’s vocal witchery is St. Jimmy, the siren calling Johnny away from his goals. There’s something wonderful in having the character’s role shared throughout the season, and shifting between male and female performers. Sarah McLeod is an inspired choice for St. Jimmy, with her ever-dazzling vocal range on full show, and a reckless ability to own any stage she sets foot on. For this run, she’ll be sharing the role with two other Aussie rock legends- Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson and Magic Dirt’s Adalita, with each performer bringing their own unique malice and mayhem to the role.
If you’re squeamish about faux drug use and bad language, then this is definitely a show to skip. But if you want your theatrical experiences to rock and speak to the darker parts of the soul, you’re probably going to love ‘American Idiot’.
★★★★★
