American Idiot

Synopsis

Green Day's American Idiot tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Their quest for true meaning in a post 9/11 world leads them on the most exhilarating theatrical journey.

Our Review:

5 December 2012

Eschewing the West End and instead making its London debut at the cavernous Hammersmith Apollo, Green Day musical American Idiot strikes me on first sighting as a strange combination.

On the one hand it's a jukebox musical akin to the multitude that now fill the capital's playhouses, but on the other it's an explicitly concert experience that has a genuine dark side (though perhaps not as dark as it might like to think - there's nothing less rock 'n' roll than fake tattoos).

A better comparison is Spring Awakening, in that it's a coming-of-age tale of disaffected youth with a heavy punk-rock vibe. Though it lacks the narrative structure of that show, what Michael Mayer's production does contain is a brilliant marriage of choreography and design and an all-American cast with talent to burn.

Set in the aftermath of 9/11, it sees Johnny (Alex Nee - who bears a striking resemblance to Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong) setti...

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Latest User Review

Elisha - 14 December 2012:

Well, this was soo much better than I had expected! Took young daughter (Green Day fan)as a treat, but reckon that we enjoyed it as much as she. High octane cast, excellent singing/playing, I loved the staging and despite reviewers elsewhere claiming there was no story, I was taken on a journey. Of its genre, excellent....

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