Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh – until 9th of February 2019
Reviewed by Hannah Plumb
3***
Greenday’s American Idiot album was to many a soundtrack of their teenage years. When the 2004 pop-punk concept album first became a musical it was a triumph that twice extended it’s run. The album was about escaping suburbia and rebelling against the propaganda of a post 9/11 America. It discussed the feelings of a disillusioned youth that is still as relevant today as when it was first written. Ten years after the initial run American Idiot returns to stages for its 10th Anniversary UK Tour.
The story follows three young male protagonists Johnny (Tom Miller), Tunny (Joshua Dowen) and Will (Samuel Pope) as they attempt to escape the monotony of suburbia for the excitement of the city. Longing to rebel against the hypocrisy of modern America and the death of the America dream the three heroes must tackle war, addiction, and love in order to understand where their place is in this new world. Miller as Johnny embodies the flawed tortured rebel that would make every young punk swoon. However, his portrayal of a young man struggling with addiction is rooted in a dark reality and is a hauntingly brilliant performance.
The production mixes a live rock band with actor-musicians which give the musical the electricity of a pop-punk concert. The band rock out at the top of the Sara Perks fantastic set, which provides an epic backdrop for the chaos of the characters journeys, visually it is very cool. Miller, Dowen, and Pope lead the cast with strong and rocky vocals that really reflect the soul of the original Greenday trio. The vocals throughout the whole show are what carries the story and make it a truly worthwhile experience. A special nod to Raquel Jones who’s portrayal of Extraordinary Girl is not one to be missed, her powerful voice is a beautiful contrast to the heavy drums and electric guitar. Her performance with Dowen of the song Extraordinary Girl is a powerful moment which elevates the rock opera to another level.
Although the performances are all incredibly strong the plot of American Idiot is somewhat disjointed and I believe it would be hard to follow if you were not already a fan of the music. My biggest issue with the musical was the sheer amount of talented female performers who were wasted in a musical that uses women to complete a male story arc and very little else. The female characters have very little meaning other than to either bolster or conflict the three leading males.
That being said if you’re a fan of Green Day, a talented young cast and exceptional vocals, American Idiot at the Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre will transport you back to the days where we all wanted an outrageous fringe and for our parents to get out of our rooms.