American Idiot
Built around the songs of Green Day, American Idiot is a story of drugs, war, responsibility and irresponsibility all in the pursuit of some version of the American dream post-9/11. For this production, the time period has been shifted from the early-2000s to 2024, drawing parallels between the original story and Trump-era America.
The show follows the diverging path of three friends frustrated with their stifling lives in suburbia. After Johnny (played by Jack David) secures tickets to the city, Will (Sultan Chaudhury) discovers his girlfriend Heather (Alice Goodall) is pregnant and so chooses to stay home.
But the city is not the great solution to their problems that Johnny and Tunny (Rhodri Denton) had hoped. Disillusioned, Tunny is easily influenced by an army commercial featuring America’s Favorite Son (Andy Cattanach) to enlist, whilst Johnny turns to the vices of lust and drug addiction.
Johnny reached levels of depravity and desperation through the formation of a drug dealing alter ego, St Jimmy (Tessa Raum). Raum stalks the stage with menacing purpose, weaving in and out of Johnny’s relationship with Whatsername (Megan Hill).
Overseas, Tunny is injured at war, ending up in hospital where he falls in love with his nurse, Extraordinary Girl (Zoe Davey). Meanwhile back at home in suburbia, Will refuses to help raise a family and turns to alcohol and cigarettes.
Long Eaton Operatic Players have put on a visually stunning show. The multilevel set design is grungy and anarchist, littered with protest signs. This is aesthetically matched by Elle Bates and Becky Moreley’s punkish costume design. Raum’s St Jimmy costume is particularly evocative, helping her to strike an imposing figure when on stage.
Apart from a few technical issues, the lighting design adds to the already impressive set, casting the show in red, white and blue and emphasising the punk rock feel of the music.
The band is high energy and keeps momentum. Unfortunately the sound mixing means barely any of the vocals can be heard making the piece very difficult to follow and ultimately lets an otherwise promising production down. Sadly this meant listening to the show was a frustrating experience, as I have to strain to make out as many of the vocals as I could.
For the quieter, more acoustic songs, however, some strong vocals can be heard throughout this show. In particular, Hill has a wonderful voice that gets to shine in 21 Guns. David brings a strong gravelly quality to Johnny’s numbers which harmonises well with Denton and Chaudhury in Wake Me Up When September Comes.
A major highlight of the show is Sara Lim Smith’s frenetic choreography. The cast are in constant motion, making full use of the stage and the different levels. The choreography also allows for moments of fun, often deployed in contrast to the subject matter. For example, Favorite Son is a glitzy, Vegas-style routine that is fun to watch even if it is leading Tunny into enlisting.
Were it not for the sound mixing, this show has all the components to be a hit with its energetic and passionate cast and kinetic staging.
Photos credit: Ali Langton
