AMERICAN IDIOT PUNK ROCK OPERA IS MORALISTIC
The world premiere of Green Day’s American Idiot, staged by Tony-winning director Michael Mayer at Berkeley Rep. Photo courtesy of mellopix.com
AMERICAN IDIOT: Rock musical. Music by Green Day. Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong. Book by Armstrong and Michael Mayer. Directed by Mayer. With John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, Matt Caplan, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Tony Vincent et al. (Through Nov. 1.
AMERICAN IDIOT PUNK ROCK OPERA IS MORALISTIC
Contrary to Thomas Wolfe’s admonition, “You Can’t Go Home Again”, in the final scenes of American Idiot the protagonist, Johnny labeled “Jesus of Suburbia” (John Gallagher, Jr.), and his best friends Will (Michael Esper) and Tunny (Matt Caplan) return home after a horrendous journey of rebellion. Johnny confesses to the audience that he is truly an American idiot for allowing drugs to wreck his life and that of Whatsername (Rebecca Naomi Jones) the one he has loved,. It is a pleasure to hear from one who has traveled the hallucinogenic path of many punk rockers to de-glorify the drug culture.
The punk rock group called Green Day, is the source for the music that blasts the rafters off of Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre. It is lyricist Billie Joe Armstrong and director Michael Mayer who created the libretto for this world premiere opera from the band's smash 2004 album. They added seven songs, including four from the new "21st Century Breakdown" album and mounted a technically spectacular, loud, raucous show that seems headed for Broadway, as did the 2007 PassingStrange.
Director Michael has been practically canonized for his Tony Award winning Spring Awakening and is hoping for similar accolades. I may not be forth coming. He, his co- creators and the publicist for the show keep emphasizing that this is a “stage production with a story line.” Yet, it truly has the feel of a theatrical rock concert with a four story industrial backdrop studded with flashing TV sets imbedded in the wall (set design Christine Jones) to supplement the flashing psychedelic lighting (Kevin Adams) and grunge costumes (Andrea Lauer) of the 19 member cast and an 8 piece on-stage band led by Carmel Dean playing keyboard and accordion.
All the cast members exude energy and display great dance moves (choreographer Steven Hoggett) emphasized by fantastic video and projections (Darrel Maloney). Other major cast members match the fine performances of Gallagher, Esper, Caplan and Jones. They are, Tony Vincent as St. Jimmy, Mary Farber as Heather, Christina Sajous as The Extraordinary Girl and from the ensemble group, Joshua Henry is standout.
If you are into punk rock, this becomes a must see production. Running time 90 minutes without intermission.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com