Theatre

American Idiot at Milton Keynes Theatre Review

23-27 April 2019

Reviewed by Tricia Shaw

American Idiot is set following the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11 and starts with news footage of the Twin Towers’ destruction. Three youths are questioning life and plan to escape their restrictive suburban homes together. However, before they leave, Will (Samuel Pope) discovers his girlfriend Heather (Siobhan O’Driscoll) is pregnant and resolves to stay with her; Tunny (Joshua Dowen) and Johnny (Tom Milner) go off alone. While Tunny is drawn to the army and heads off to war, Johnny is drawn to drink and drugs with St Jimmy (Luke Friend), his drug induced alter ego. The story is told primarily through the songs from Green Day’s Album of the same name in addition to a few others. Some of the great numbers featured include “Jesus of Suburbia”, “Boulevard of broken dreams”, “Wake me up when September ends”, “Last Night on Earth”, “21 Guns”, “Whatsername”, “Last of the American Girls” and “Extraordinary girl”.

Green Day’s American Idiot is a fast paced and thought provoking show with fantastic choreography performed by a talented team of dancers and musicians. The scenery is well designed; unobtrusive yet highly adaptable and effective.

With wonderful costumes and slick dances it is a very visually appealing show, which was good as it was often difficult to hear the lyrics. Nonetheless there was a lot of swearing (both verbal and physical) as well as explicit drugs and sex scenes; it is most definitely not suitable for under 14s.

15 years since the multi-platinum album was first released the show is now in its 10th year. The UK tour is celebrating these anniversaries and the huge success of this punk-rock musical with songs written by Billie Joe Armstrong and adapted for the stage by Michael Mayer.

The tour continues at Milton Keynes until 27th April before heading off to Reading, Bridlington, New Wimbledon (London), Eastbourne, Glasgow, Bradford, Aberdeen, Cheltenham and Liverpool. Further dates and venues may well be announced.

For more information or to book tickets visit www.americanidiotthemusical.co.uk.

Rating: 4/5

Tickets cost from £13.65 (plus £3.65 transaction fee).

American Idiot is at Milton Keynes Theatre from 23-27 April 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or call the box office on 0844 8717652.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK9 3NZ

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