Jun 2
Review: 'American Idiot' a Green Day Soundtrack to an American Story
Will Demers READ TIME: 3 MIN.
"American Idiot" was a 2004 concept album by Green Day, written in the wake of 9/11 chaos and realities of post-disaster life in our country. Taking inspiration from artists like "The Who" and concept albums like "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Tommy," the album was meant to be a soundtrack of sorts. Notably written in the third person and commenting on tragedy and life's pitfalls, the hope – by lyricist and band member Billie Joe Armstrong – was for the album eventually to be a film score.
This musical production, presented at Wilbury Theatre Group, is based on the book written by Micheal Mayer and lyrics and music by Green Day and Armstrong.
The story centers around three young men who are unhappy with their lives in "Jingletown, USA," a nowhere suburb. Johnny (Michael Eckenreiter) is the product of a broken home; he joins his friend Will (Henry Stanton) and Tunny (Alexander Boyle) for a night of partying at Will's house. As they discuss their dead-end lives, Johnny challenges each of them to make a change. Johnny then buys bus tickets for all of them to escape to the "big city," but only he and Tunny actually leave. Will discovers that his girlfriend, Heather (Annabelle Iredale), is pregnant, and he agrees to stay and help her with the baby. Meanwhile, Johnny experiments with drugs and Tunny joins the military.
Source: The Wilbury Group
The play originally debuted at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009, becoming their top-grossing musical at the time in a limited run. Arriving at the St. James Theatre on Broadway a year later in previews, it eventually opened in April 2010. The show had a year-long history of not turning much of a profit until Billie Joe himself appeared at St. Jimmy at least 50 times, eventually being replaced by Melissa Etheridge in 2011. Sales soared during Armstrong's tenure, as well as Etheridge's, but dropped after their departures, and the show closed in 2011 after 27 previews and 421 performances. The original cast album won a Grammy in 2011.
Artistic Director Josh Short directs this lively and kinetic musical with devoted passion, choosing a cast of raw talent that brings an earnest and intense portrayal of a large cast of youthful characters in search of life, love, happiness, and, above all, purpose in a tragic and broken world. Most of the cast are making their debuts here, but a few are returning actors, including Perry Barkett (this season's "Noise") and musician Christine Perkins ("Fun Home"). Each of the cast members find themselves on a vast platform in Wilbury's black box theatre space, flanked by a band sitting under a series of catwalks and a stage for Will's home and cellist and violinist, respectively. Two large screens at either end provide live video streaming courtesy of cast member Justin Alice Voena, filming much of the action even whilst joining in on it.
Source: The Wilbury Group
All of the leads are strong. Eckenreiter and Boyle belt out their numbers with rage and passion, and Stanton's Will imbues his character, who is stuck at home with a baby, with heartfelt sadness. Jenna Benkinger makes a huge impact as Jenna Benzinger, the brief girlfriend who falls victim to Johnny's drug addiction.
The action never seems to stop, nor does the wonderful Green Day music, which gives this musical its vibrant life and rapidly beating heart. It's an electric night of theatre, and Wilbury once again shows us what raw talent can do in the right setting.
"American Idiot" is running through June 15 at The Wilbury Theatre Group inside the WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence 02908. For information or tickets, call 401-400-7100 or visit thewilburygroup.org.
