AMERICAN IDIOT A REVIEW

As one who is not familiar with the rock group"'Green Day" or their chart busting album "American Idiot" I did not know what to expect from the musical that has been made from it. I am not too hospitable to rock music in a theatrical setting. The music is generally too loud,the singing second rate and the plots mostly idiotic["Spring Awakening" one of the few exeptions"], so I am not a good customer for this sort of thing, so even though AMERICAN IDIOT has all the things I normally hate in musicals,I had a very good time at it. The songs[all from the album with afew additions] are not too ear peircing, the voices are mostly first rate and the plot which deals with three lifelong friends and the different life-paths they take is sturdy and sometimes honestly moving, which proves that most things can be appetizing enough if done right. and Michael Mayer has staged it with wit and snap.
The cast for the most part could not be better, and John Gallagher Jr, Stark Sands and Michael Esper are first rate as the three friends who are trying to survive in a post 9/11 world.
The show looks great with attractive and playable sets by Christine Jones and the music has been very well orchestrated by the talented Tom Kitt.
So while AMERICAN IDIOT is not the best show ever, the plot is better than most, the beat is infectious and the production is colorful. It adds up to a lively, colorful, and surprisingly moving show.
At THE ST. JAMES THEATRE 246 WEST 44th STREET N.Y.C.











































































































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