American Idiot: The Musical Review

Last night we ventured north past our typical geographical confines to check out Green Day’s American Idiot musical at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Based on Green Day’s Grammy-winning album, American Idiot, the show kicks off Dancap’s 2012 season. Like many young professionals (YPs), we have been Green Day fans since Dookie was released in junior high or high school and were pumped to check it out. Be warned: this is not your parent’s musical. Unlike any other, American Idiot is raw, unapologetic and sexy, and seems specifically created for today’s YP. Engaging and visually stimulating, this musical held our attention like no other has since the days of our high school RENT obsession, as it brought to life Green Day classics like “Holiday,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and title track “American Idiot.”

We admit, we were skeptical that we would enjoy the music from the lips of the actors rather than by Green Day themselves, but not only did they refrain from butchering some of our favourite songs, they had us bopping our heads all 90 minutes of the one-act performance. The music isn’t the only thing that young professionals can look forward to; some of the key themes are relatable to our generation in a different way than they would be to the 50+ set as the characters ask themselves ‘is this my life?’ and struggle to find meaning in a post 9/11 existence. The angst of what to do with one’s day, year off or life is a place many YPs can remember clearly.

The story centers on three pre-maturely jaded and disaffected friends, Johnny (Van Hughes), Will (Jake Epstein), and Tunny (Scott J. Campbell), their frustration with the world and the state of their lives and personal searches for meaning. Johnny and Tunny flee their parent’s restrictions and the comfort zones of their suburban basement couches to the seemingly limitless offerings of the big city. Meanwhile, Will is forced to stay behind when his girlfriend, Heather (Leslie McDonel), reveals that she is pregnant, sending him into a perpetual drug and alcohol-infused depression. Johnny, the main protagonist, quickly finds himself caught up in a world of drugs, despair and subsequent heartbreak in his journey of self-discovery and newfound freedom. Tunny discovers that the city is not all that he had dreamed it would be, joins the military, and is shipped off to war. The characters eventually return home to the comforts, monotony and familiarity of suburbia and each other.

American Idiot demonstrates the consequence of moving too fast and getting caught up in the freedom of a new city, new experiences and an obsession to define one’s life meaning – a place where many YPs have been. Much like the story, we have all watched friends both move ahead and fall behind in the race to succeed and the desire to experience more than the bubble in which we grew up. In the end, however, no matter where we temporarily escape or reside, many YPs return back to their city of origin, where they have fostered relationships and comfort. Furthermore, American Idiot’s 9/11 references particularly resonate with the YP because we were all at pivotal points in our lives – on the cusp of adolescence and adulthood – when it occurred and developed our own meanings for it and its impact on our future.

Unlike today’s generation of youth, who grew up to the likes of Gossip Girl, Tiffany bracelets, Blackberries and iPhones, and MTV (not Muchmusic), most young professionals, especially those now in their thirties, experienced a grunge-filled youth of guitar-playing, vintage pound shopping, a general gritty style and raw attitude that is reflected in all aspects of the performance. The set itself is nostalgic for YPs as it reflects that raw adolescent life perfectly in an eclectic mix of couches, scaffolding, metal stairways, unmade beds, and random items like a basketball net and dangling shopping cart. Over 30 television sets dot the background and communicate images of relevant events, propaganda and pop culture past.

The performance itself was fabulous on all fronts as the actors truly exude the total triple threat package. We remained captivated by the vocal, dance and guitar talent throughout, and were even treated to a special aerial performance. We found it quite remarkable that Green Day was able to pull this off and make it different than any other rock musical out there in a successful fusion of a classic rock album with musical theatre. Our only minor complaint? Although the characters return home after having undergone their own transformations, they remain in less than ideal situations and character development seems slightly lacking in that regard. Relying on little dialogue, American Idiot was able to communicate messages based on the performance and music alone, but we are not sure it would have been the same had we not been familiar with the music. With that said, our parents may not like it, but it is a definite must-see for today’s theatre-loving or rock-loving YP.

Book by Michael Mayer and Billie Joe Armstrong. Lyrics by Armstrong. Music by Green Day. Directed by Mayer. Until Jan. 15 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. 416-644-3665.