The Bushnell, Hartford, CT
through March 3, 2013
by Eric Sutter
"American Idiot" is an electric blue of snarling
fun. Featuring the music of Green Day and lyrics of its lead singer Billy Joe
Armstrong makes this show a must see.
The cast is bombarded by T.V. broadcasts of bad news from
their post 9-11 world from which they scream out their frustration in the title
song. This bold new musical tells the story of three life-long friends --
Johnny (Alex Nee), Tunny (Thomas Hettrick) and Will (Casey O'Farrell) -- who are
forced to choose between their city dreams and the safety of suburbia. Strong
language and gestures color the action when needed, particularly effective in
"I Don't Care," simulating choreographed fight scenes. Craving fun,
the trio plan to move to the big city. It's a bust when Will's girlfriend turns
up pregnant. Johnny turns to drugs and his alter-ego St. Jimmy to search for
meaning.
The spark ignites with durable songs "Holiday" and
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" which weave emotion and develop the
story with hologram images of New York City projected over the set. The love
scene "Give Me Novocaine" is splintered by wild dance in "Last
of the American Girls/She's A Rebel." "Extraordinary Girl" find
Jenna Rubaii descending from the ceiling on wires, singing like an angel. In
another scene, hooded sweat-shirted dancers punk out "Do You Know Your
Enemy?" "21 Guns" involves the entire company in disjointed
harmony. "Wake Me When September Comes," with Johnny on acoustic
guitar, adds a nice touch for a moment of reflection. Great rock harmony builds
the show to a head banger crescendo in "Rock and Roll Girlfriend."
The troupe reunion "We're Coming Home Again" is the perfect finale.
Quick costume changes, fantastic lighting, and spontaneous
choreography make for a very fast joyride of intense cutting edge musical theatre.
