Theatre Review: Green Day's American Idiot - Edinburgh Playhouse ✭✭✭

Green Day’s American Idiot

Edinburgh Playhouse

22nd Oct 2012: As a mixed audience, including old school punks and teens with multi-coloured hair and skinny jeans, gathered at the Playhouse for the unlikely musical, Green Day’s American Idiot, they were certainly not disappointed.

The production, which was launched in 2009 and went to Broadway in 2010, follows the journey of three disaffected youths, growing up in post 9/11 America. The three friends, Johnny (Alex Nee), Will (Casey O’Farrell) and Tunny (Thomas Hettrick), who are united by their love for music, but each choosing completely different paths in life. Johnny, the anti-hero, falls into a relationship of love and drugs that is dictated by his alter-ego, St. Jimmy (Trent Saunders). The trio is full of energy and their vocals work well together, with Nee baring a more than passing resemblance to Green Day’s front man, Billie Joe Armstrong.

The company of AMERICAN IDIOT (Photo by Litwin)

A live band featured on stage throughout the show and played a pivotal role, which demonstrated the importance of ‘the music’. Although many of the songs fitted well into the plot and highlighted the depth and meaning of Green Day’s lyrics, there were songs that felt slightly shoe-horned in.

The set was simplistic with exposed scaffolding and a bank of televisions mounted on the back wall. The televisions played a series of images, phrases and political footage, which helped to set the scene and reflect the characters’ emotion.

The all American cast injected excitement and energy into the fast-paced chorography, along with strong vocals, particularly from St Jimmy (Saunders), Heather (Kennedy Caughell), Whatsername (Alyssa DiPalma) and The Extraordinary Girl (Jenna Rubaii).

The show concluded with Time of your Life, which was the perfect ending to the trio’s journey. It is a truly entertaining show, comparable with Glee, and with all the potential to be developed and expanded in the future.

3 stars out of 5 ✭✭✭

Review by Mhairi Greer

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Tour dates

October 22 - 27

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Playhouse

18-22 Greenside Place