Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight? — Page 3

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#51

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/26/10 at 1:01pm

To think of all the shows that could have opened this season, including the above mentioned PASSING STRANGE. That show rocked out and still had a beautifully told, moving, compelling story worth $130.

#52

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/26/10 at 11:56pm

I have a semi-random question: Are there a lot of strobe lights? I saw a video with clips from "American Idiot" (the song) and there were TONS... does that continue throughout the show? Strobe lights trigger migraines for me, and usually I can just close my eyes (like in Next to Normal) but I don't want to spend the entire show with my eyes closed...

"That was the most offensive thing I've seen in 20 years of teaching. And that includes an elementary school production of Hair." -Glee

#53

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/27/10 at 12:03am

Strobe lights are used in several numbers, so that would be a problem for you then...

#54

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/27/10 at 2:14am

I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I'm not a Green Day fan at all; I still haven't heard the actual album. I had friends who had seen it out in Berkeley, though, so I was prepared for a very thin storyline, and chose to treat it more like a theatrically staged concert. That being said, I also felt it was easier to understand the basic plot of American Idiot more than say, Come Fly Away, and that it had a coherent plot, albeit a very simple one, where the characters simply exist rather than have large, dramatic events happen to them. I thought the cast was great, full of passion and energy, and that that aspect really helped sell the show.

#55

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/27/10 at 7:10am

i saw the show last night!! lets start with the negatives the storyline is very thin and there are songs that just dont make sense or move the story on. at one stage they had a girl looking like aladdin come down on ropes?? made no sense, maybe i missed something.on the positives the singing is great john gallagher is amazing he does afew songs with just him and the guitar which are unreal,rebecca niomi jones needs to be in it more she is under used but is great in what she does, tony vincent is excellent as st jimmy , so overall the show needs some work but cast will probably get it through i will go see it again in 4-6weeks to see if improved in some areas....

Updated On: 3/27/10 at 07:10 AM

#56

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/27/10 at 7:18am

From the sounds of it....what needs work the most is the book, and since they haven't made any great advancements/changes on this since Berkely, it looks like they have no intentions of doing so.

I'm still looking forward to expereriencing this myself, a great deal, actually. I'm seeing it the Friday after it opens...I'm hoping to be among the fans....but I worry that I wont' be won over.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#57

Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Posted: 3/27/10 at 9:00am

"i saw the show last night!! lets start with the negatives the storyline is very thin and there are songs that just dont make sense or move the story on. at one stage they had a girl looking like aladdin come down on ropes?? made no sense, maybe i missed somethin"

OK ive ehard a lot of people say this bit does not makes sense and i just wanted to say.....HOW ARE YOU MISSING THE POINT?

Its pretty easy really
*spoilers*
After been injured in the war the charachter is in hospital in iraq with his fellow soldiers who have been hurt. Hes on morphine and begins to halluciante this his nurse whos at the hospital is doing all these crazy things (flying etc). Its an hallucination scene., its pretty easy to understand and actually a brilliant scene bringing happiness for him out of a horrible situation, he meets this great girl.

Honestly it's funny hearing people saying how thin the plot is (which it is) but it's a good job it didnt have more of one since people dont seem to be able to understand the one that is there.

And yes the plot is thin but this to me plays very much like an opera, its not a traditional musical but it has enough of a story to keep the show moving along.

former sadm2 (wink)

#58

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 9:57am

A lot of people have posted comments about the so-called "thin book" or storyline.

The storyline is not thin. Three characters each attempt to get away from the town. Two make it, one doesn't. The one who doesn't spends his days vegetating in front of TV, alienates his wife and child, and loses them. The second one strikes out on his own, gets seduced by the glamor of war and the army and joins up, is wounded, loses his leg and meets a nice girl who loves him. The third leaves, strikes out on his own, gets caught up with a drug pusher and meets a rebellious but nice girl with a big heart. He wrecks the relationship, becomes an addict for a time. Has a total breakdown and then decides to get back to a more respectable existence, where he toils at an empty job. All three finally return home/get back together, having learned various lessons, including what it is to have wasted a portion of their youth. And the main character finishes the show with a number reflecting back on it all and what might have been done differently.

Does not sound that thin to me. I wager you there are more plot points in this show that the Adams Family I just saw.

What this show does not have is a big SPOKEN book. That is true. The narrative is delivered through song. It is an exciting narrative, told with great artistry. I went to the show with great apprehension actually because I was not a big fan of Green Day and generally did not like punk music. I look forward to seeing it once they open.

I think the show is genius. I hope they do really well. It feels more innovative to me than anything I recall seeing in years

#59

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 10:18am

But it seems obvioius to me from the MANY posts on AI that the story is not being received by many. That is the fault of the piece...not of the individual.

Do all shows speak to all people? Of course not, but when MANY folks are having the same criticism, something is askew.

The story obviously spoke to YOU, and that's wonderful...but certainly no reason to suggest that others didn't "get it' and need to be educated about it. I daresay, I was always suprised that Movin' Out often got the same criticism....I was deeply moved by the story I saw and understood.

#60

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 10:51am

Musicalman, yes, I got that from the show. Yes, I understand what went on but for all the lights, loud music and frenzy that goes on on stage the plot line was thin if non existent.
As far as the hallucination scene goes. I found it hokey and WTF? I laughed my ass off at it. It was like someone pooped a little Julie Taymor onstage!

Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!

#61

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 11:23am

I didnt find it funny at all, i found it in keeping in tone with the show, it was fun, it played well with the scene and the mixture of happy fantasy with the tragedy of what happens to the other soldiers was perfect

former sadm2 (wink)

#62

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 11:58am

Can't wait to see the show. The elements of the story/book are obviously dividing lots of people, so I want to see for myself.

On the other hand, seems like a near-consensus that the main performances are powerful and well-done. Combined with strong design/sets, etc., this may be more than enough for the Tony, given the lack of a very strong competitor.

#63

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 12:05pm

see, my take on it is that pretty much everyone is following the storyline. I think the word storyline or book is being used synonymously by some with "spoken words" which is different. I think it may be a problem with terminology as a starter. You would be hard pressed to watch the action on stage and not think that there were a lot of plot points. Way more than many successful musicals.

They may choose not to like the FORM of the narrative, but it is undeniably there.

#64

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 12:32pm

I saw the show last night.

After everything I read here about the limited book, I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the narrative was simply through the songs. I didn't have any problems following the story at all, which is a tribute to the power of Green Day's score.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The energy and the production elements were phenomenal, but I just felt like there was way too much going on at all times. I never emotionally engaged with the story because I was always trying to figure out where to look in the midst of all the chaos on stage. Was there really a need for a car suspended from the ceiling, or for the monitors to constantly compete with the performers amidst all of the songs?

The other real issue is that the character of Johnny, whose journey frames the whole arc of the piece, is completely and utterly unlikeable. He starts off the show as a whiny brat and pretty much stays that way throughout. John Gallagher is good enough, but he's not really doing much to counteract the awful writing he has to deal with. Stark Sands and Michael Esper (as his two best friends) were much more successful at pulling some emotional resonance out of the material.

*SPOILER* In terms of what could be changed, I was a little put off by the ending. The show should organically end at the conclusion of "We're Coming Home Again." Having Johnny step forward to lead everyone in "Whatsername" felt totally tacked on. What was the point of having Rebecca Naomi Jones come back for that number if she isn't going to interact with anyone around her? *SPOILER*

The two real standouts were definitely Jones and Christina Sajous, both of whom knocked their material out of the park.

Overall, I think the show will be well received. The core base they're really appealing to will love everything about it, but I'm not sure that's going to translate into a long run. The message lends itself toward an extremely segmented audience, and with high running costs and the burden of filling the St. James, finding mainstream success could be a tough challenge.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 3/27/10 at 12:32 PM

#65

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 2:31pm

SPOILERS

For me, the issue with the book isn't that there is NO narrative, but that there is no detail to the narrative and no real detail in terms of the characterizations. Very few of the songs have lyrics that directly propel plot or characterization, and since there is such little spoken word, the plot and characterization are more outlines than fully delineated entities. (The fact that the sound mix is somewhat muddy and lyrics are getting swallowed doesn't help matters.)

The description that you gave is a good one, but it's essentially the entire plot, not just the outline of the plot, and there is little detail or complexity to the characters. There really aren't a lot of details onstage. And some of the details that you've given are not IMO really shown on stage. For example, the main reason to think that the nurse who marries Tunny is "a nice girl who loves him" is because she comes on stage for about 15 seconds neatly dressed, smiles at him and kisses him affectionately. I don't know if the audience can really say that she is a "nice girl" based on that 15-second interaction. The characters are very broadly portrayed and the audience has to fill in the details. Similarly, the description of Rebecca Naomi Jones's character as a "rebellious but nice girl with a big heart," in my opinion, is unsupported by what we actually see on stage.

And I didn't feel that I understood at all why Michael Esper's character let his wife go, or anything else about their motivation for anything (their whole arc and characterization is not fleshed out at all).

Just my opinion.

"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

Updated On: 3/27/10 at 02:31 PM

#66

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 3:45pm

I completely agree that there is too much going on. My least favorite part was the Extraordinary Girl/hallucination scene. It wasn't set up enough and I felt my mind drifting.

I really enjoyed it overall, and did not find Johnny unlikeable (but I am a big Gallagher fan). They've made some steps in the right direction since Berkeley but they can do more tinkering with the show, specifically the book.

#67

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 7:51pm

I saw the show today and am still working on digesting it. I think this show may need multiple viewings to truly grasp all that is happening on stage. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I wasn't a Green Day fan before this, but I certainly am now. It was the first musical this season that I have left and was truly excited for the possible hit they had in their hands. Note the word possible, as there is a bit of work to do. I agree that Watsername at the end of the show was completely unnecessary, I didn't see any point for that to be the last song in the show, and seemed like it was just thrown in for no reason. I won't go through and state the same things everyone on this board has already stated, but even with the thin story, if the purpose of the show is to entertain, it certainly achieved its goal for me!
I also thought it was neat to see your typical theatre crowd come together with the hoards of Green Day fanatics that were at the show. I'd say both camps seemed pleased!

#68

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 7:55pm

I think some others have somewhat said that they really did not care for the characters because of how poorly developed the characters are and I agree completely. At one point I kept thinking how I felt more connected to the characters in Green Day's 10 minute video for Jesus of Suburbia.

#69

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 10:57pm

i can not wait for the cast cd i aslo want to see it.

#70

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/27/10 at 11:19pm

I think some others have somewhat said that they really did not care for the characters because of how poorly developed the characters are and I agree completely.

Yep. Nail. Head. I like to care about a character, or at least WANT something interesting to happen to them by the end -- whether I love or hate them. With American Idiot, I didn't care at all what happened to any of them. I don't have a problem with a character in a musical being a loser, but at least give said loser some kind of arc. And don't fill your show with them.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#71

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/28/10 at 2:23pm

The characters are not extremely well developed, but I did see an arc, if a vague one, when they all return home at the end. They've all changed/grow up, if only slightly.

Updated On: 3/28/10 at 02:23 PM

#72

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/29/10 at 11:25pm

Saw it tonight.

There is a clear plot outline/narrative, but that is it. The characters are NOT developed, and the audience doesn't get a chance to care about them.

The score isn't really my type of music, but it sounded great with the band and singers.

Acting was fine all around. Gallagher was the best as expected, but it will be interesting to see if he will fit in the Best Actor category. Stark Sands provided some nice work. Tony Vincent was completely underwhelming in a rather small role.

Loved the set, lighting, and most of the staging.

I enjoyed it much more than Fela and Memphis. And maybe slightly more than Addams Family.

#73

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/29/10 at 11:26pm

So I finally saw American Idiot tonight. I couldn't wait to see this show. My friend won lotto so we were second row. The seats were perfect. I would prefer those over front row because the stage is so high.

I loved the show. I agree with everyone that there isn't a strong plot per say, but a story is certainly there and very easy to follow. It is more of like an outline of a story.

I loved John Gallaher Jr. He was great as Johnny. A very demanding role. He must be exhausted after the show. I also loved Rebecca Naomi Jones. I loved her voice and thought she was locked into Whatshername.

My personal favorite was Stark Sands. I loved him in this role. He has such a great voice and hard a much larger role than I anticipated. On the contrary, Michael Esper had a really small part. Wasn't expecting it to be that small.

One more thing. I don't get where all this hype about Tony Vincent and a Tony nomination. He was just ok to me. Not terrible by any means but not great.

"It's about the Benjamins, not the Bernsteins."-CapnHook

#74

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/29/10 at 11:41pm

Haven't seen AMERICAN IDIOT yet and am excited to do so, but the biggest revelation this thread is pointing out to me: people are actually liking THE ADDAMS FAMILY?!? Blechhhhhh.

#75

AMERICAN IDIOT narrative (spoilers and long)

Posted: 3/29/10 at 11:54pm

I also saw the show tonight. Point of reference...I sat in one of the "lotto loser" $37 partial view seats in the side orchestra. Those seats are absolutely not being sold for students only. The lotto girl was encouraging random people off the street to join the line and see the show for "only $37." So...for people concerned about not being able to do lotto, this is an option.

Anyway, as for the show....I really enjoyed much of it, though I wouldn't say it has a plot, more an outline. That being said, if you don't expect much of a story, this is a very high energy, entertaining piece.

It's a slick production, and both the sets and lighting are Tony worthy. Tom Kitt also did a fine job with the orchestrations- the band sounds spectacular and the sound is very, very full.

The cast is all very strong- what a great set of voices. Gallagher is the standout, of course. What a demanding role he plays! He's excellent, and I hope he gets remembered with a Tony nomination.

The supporting cast doesn't get nearly as much to do, and I don't quite get the hoopla over Tony Vincent, who was fine in a VERY small role. Poor Michael Esper has to sit on a couch for 90 minutes.

Overall, this show has the look and feel of a HUGE hit. It's glitzy and a definite crowd pleaser. The audience absolutely loved it tonight. Regardless of the reviews (though I think they'll be positive), this is going to have a long, healthy run.

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