The plot follows struggling artists Johnny, Will and Tunny as they follow diverging paths on their journey to find meaning and purpose in their American lives.
Courtesy of Chaz D. Photography
By Sofía García Vargas
American Stage did it again, this time as an ode to punk rock band Green Day’s “American Idiot” album.
To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect.
The only other American Stage production I’ve seen was “Mamma Mia!,” a musical based on ABBA’s hit songs. To me, this play made sense as there are two movies based around the music and a plot that could be easily conveyed on stage.
However, for the Green Day installment, it was hard to understand the concept of putting together a whole production based off only one album, but when I read more about the context of what was going on during the time the album came out, I understood the potential of the play.
The 2004 album centers around a chaotic time in United States history just after the events of 9/11 and the Iraq war.
Lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong sang about the xenophobia, fear and propaganda that quickly spread throughout the nation, criticizing American politicians who were using fear as a controlling device.
Mass media also played a crucial role in increasing sensationalism, drifting away from unbiased journalism toward actions that satisfied the agenda of media outlet ownership.
American Stage’s 2022 production of “Green Day’s American Idiot” brings those issues back to light and makes them relevant again, especially after the 2016 elections when the nation saw a rise in public influence and disinformation through social media.
The plot follows Johnny, played by Johnny Shea, a lower middle-class struggling artist and his friends Will and Tunny, played by Nathan David Smith and Zummy Mohammed respectively, as they follow diverging paths on their journey to find meaning and purpose in their American lives.
The “American Dream” is challenged through the songs and performances, navigating through topics such as drugs, violence and war.
Punk genre is represented in the costumes and set of the play, enticing a fun, playful and engaging aspect for the audience. The costumes included leather, denim, metal spikes, chains and military-style boots. The set denotes a theme of struggle and survival with limited props and furniture and no sense of luxury whatsoever.
The performances of the cast, from the lead actors to the supporting roles, were outstanding. The cast gave it their all for every song and that energy transferred to the crowd as they sang along with them. Their professionalism was also exposed when things didn’t go well, as they carried on their performance even when the microphones failed.
Even though dialogue was limited throughout the play, whenever it happened it was humorous and relatable, bringing the audience back to their seats after the musical performances.
Green Day classics like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Holiday,” “21 Guns” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends” had the audience singing and clapping along.
Without giving too much away, there are a couple of songs that seem out of place, bringing a sense of fantasy and “what the heck just happened” moments, but the songs are fun either way.
Make sure to pay attention to the TV’s in the background, as the images and videos displayed on the screen provide more context of the time period the show is based on.
Whether you are a Green Day fan or not, I highly recommend this play. You are guaranteed a good time and a new found appreciation for musical theater.
