The Green Day album American Idiot was released as a concept album in 2004 and since then has been purchased tens of millions of times worldwide. In 2009 it was adapted and made into a musical. While it is not unusual for a concept album to be made into a musical – Les Miserables started off this way – it is unusual to have a punk-based musical. In this regard, the album American Idiot was the perfect vehicle for a punk/musical theatre fusion – the high energy, riff based angst of punk is matched with pop style melodies and almost sweet singing in Green Day’s pop-punk album.
Currently on their tenth anniversary tour, Selladoor Productions kicked off their Manchester leg in the Palace Theatre to a full house that was thoroughly engaged from start to finish.
As in any concept musical, the story is not as important as the themes and ideas that are explored in a performance. In American Idiot, the story follows Johnny, a young man who leaves home to go and live in the city. He is to be joined by his friends Tunny and Will, but Will stays behind to be with his girlfriend who has just found out she is pregnant. Tunny and Johnny enjoy their freedom in the city but soon Tunny leaves to join the army. Johnny is left alone but soon finds two companions – Whatsername and Saint Jimmy. As the story goes on, we are not sure if these are real people or an imaginary manifestation of self destruction and goodness. Johnny spirals into a destructive drug habit and scenes of him administering drugs and the negative consequences of his addiction are at times harrowing but tastefully done. In the end, he goes back home and the friends all meet up again. This is set in the context of 9/11 and the war on terrorism. Images and footage from news events from that time are projected on screen and there is a clear contradiction between the portrayl of the USA as a god-fearing, upright nation and the lives of it's youth – soldier, teenage parent and a drop out are all victims of a society that doesn’t care. The story here is relatively simple, but – as in the album – there is a depth to the lyrics that can be revisited again and again. The number 'Know Your Enemy' contains typical exaggerated punk lyrics that emphasise a "them-and-us" mentality with strong imagery – the blood’s been sacrificed, rally up the demons of your soul etc but in the context of the musical setting, we can be led to question the idea of enemy – are we hurt more by our local society than our supposed enemies far away?
There are many similar themes in American Idiot that can be explored at a deeper level yet these are subtle and at face level the show can be enjoyed without it being moralistic or heavy.
Johnny, played by Tom Milner, was perfectly suited to the roll. Although none of the characters in this concept musical have real emotional depth in that we aren’t drawn to have much empathy with any of them, he was fully convincing as a grungy punk kid that is disenfranchised with suburban life and hates everything. Apart from looking the part, Milner is both a strong actor and musician having had roles in Waterloo Road, Holby City and also having been a contestant in The Voice. While this musical is almost entirely sung from start to finish, Milner’s speaking parts added necessary gravitas and at times his acting caused us true concern for Johnny’s life and his singing was flawless – possibly a little too flawless. I would have liked some rough and growl on occasions to match the punk style music, but that is personal taste.
Johnny’s sidekicks, Tunny (Joshua Dowen) and Will (Samuel Pope), were also perfectly cast. Again, both characters looked the part of jock and loser respectively, but there was no doubt as to their talent as actors and singers, as can be said for all of the leads. Difficult vocal lines were delivered impeccably. Sam Lavery stood out as a commanding Whatsername and made me wish she had more to sing. Her voice worked really well against the others in this predominantly male vocal musical. The cast also sang powerfully adding well-arranged harmony to the original Green Day tracks.
The four piece band were present on stage at all times and a clear part of the performance. Punk music is performed with a constant driving energy and while this was present in the music which was challenging but masterfully played, it was accessible for any audience – the balance and volume levels were tastefully energetic rather than loud and banging. You could not say at any point that this was noise!
This musical moved very quickly, at times it was a little distressing and there were certainly scenes that make this not suitable for young children, yet all was tastefully done. If I had any criticism, it would be that the dancing lacked lift but really I am nitpicking over what was an energetic, convincing and driving performance that had a deserved standing ovation.
Reviewer - Aaron Loughrey
on - 2/4/19
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