Presented by Shake & Stir and Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Reviewed 20 January 2018
American punk-pop band Green Day have turned their seminal album American Idiot into a stage production. Variously labelled a rock-opera and a musical, it is neither.
American Idiot takes a fantastic rock album, and then puts it on a stage in a series of vignettes: it’s basically live video clips, strung together. There is certainly nothing rock-operaesque about this, but it also does not have genre pretentions. This is 90 minutes of high-energy, exciting performance.
Direction by Craig Ilott and design by Josh MacIntosh, Craig Wilkinson and Matthew Marshall, combine to give a visually rich experience. Lucas Newland’s choreography is ably delivered by the splendid ensemble, under the guidance of dance captain, Kyla Bartholomeusz.
The role of St Jimmy is shared between three Australian rock performers: Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon, Adalita of Magic Dirt and Sarah McLeod of The Superjesus. Adalita performed on the night I attended, and she was a powerhouse. I have no doubt the other two are just as good. Named roles are also taken by Linden Furnell, Connor Crawford, Alex Jeans and Phoebe Panaretos. The ensemble keeps 90 minutes of exhausting dance and singing, going without a moment’s lag. The band are tight and faultless under the musical direction of Glenn Moorhouse
This is a thoroughly enjoyable night in the theatre. It’s not deep; it doesn’t push any theatrical boundaries; the book is unlikely to win the Pulitzer. But this is immaculately directed, designed and performed, high-octane, entertainment.
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre
Season: 19-28th January
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: $ 39.90-$139.90
Bookings: https://secure.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ticketing/WEBPAGES/Event/Dates.aspx
Photo credit: Emma Brasler
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