 |
 |
American Idiot Reviews
|
|
|
|
|
| What to Expect: |
| Acting: |
 |
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
 |
| Story: |
 |
|
|
|
| Recommended For: |
|
Adults: |
 |
|
Tourists: |
 |
|
Romantic Date: |
|
|
Anyone: |
 |
|
|
|
|
| 31 |
AMERICAN IDIOT...SEE IT AT LEAST TWICE! Review by: dee, Apr 15, 2010 |
Thought it was fantastic.....all the performers came to life in front of you...full of energy and enthusiasm...going back with my daughter soon...not a play for the younger children (some inappropriate material) but a great story about what we experience every day: LIFE
GO SEE IT...TONY VINCENT is mezmerizing! |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Family
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 32 |
Really wanted to see a great show.... Review by: JDA, Apr 15, 2010 |
As far as concerts go, this was a great show. Lots of fun lighting effects, great video (even I thought it was over used at point) Interesting scenic elements, and a respectable, though not great audio mix. As far as a Broadway show, i would have to give it one star. The plot is absent, the audience connection is missing, and over all I walked out feeling as if I wanted the last 95 minutes my life back.
This show does not fail in a lack ... read more of trying, but ultimately can not succeed due to its lack of plot. There is no change from beginning to end, there is no message, it is completely static.
I will say this, i think the cast album will be awesome, and I might even buy it when it comes out. But as for sitting through 95 minutes of this plotless show i would say save your money and your time, and go see something else. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
 |
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
|
|
|
|
| 33 |
AMERICAN IDIOT...Go SEE IT! Review by: TONY, Apr 14, 2010 |
| I saw this show the first week of previews. I thought it was amazing, so much energy and talent on view. Esp John Gallagher Jr, the Tony winner from Spring Awakening is AMAZING! This is not your Mother's musical. The song's tell the story. Give it a chance. It's terrific. I will def be going back! |
|
|
My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 34 |
Thought I might hate it. LOVED it. Review by: patfly1001 , Apr 12, 2010 |
My wife and I are parents of a 12 year old and a 6 year old who are both - to different degrees - fans of musical theater and of Green Day. We saw the show without them in order to screen it, and thought there would be as much chance we'd walk out early as stay till the end. Instead, I loved the show in every way. Yes, it's profane, and yes some of the images (there's a lot of heroin use) are striking, but what was more important to ... read more me was what they actually did with the show, what the "message" was, and for that (while of course I'd never bring my 6 year old- though he's seen In the Heights twice) I actually cant wait to take my 12-year old. While I was expecting a counter-culture, establishment (and parent) bashing bacchanal, instead I saw a very balanced show that pretty much spoke to me to put aside the things that enrage me and follow the things that bring me love. There's redemption and, in some ways, hope, in it. There's a depiction of the beauty of parenthood that I was not expecting. The show has actually put me in a state of peacefulness that really got me through a harrowing work week. I think it's a masterpiece, and I've been thinking about it ever since I saw it 5 days ago. And, as a fan of Broadway, I applaud any show (and this goes for Rent, and Spring Awakening, and In the Heights, but also for the Disney shows) that brings musical theater to a new audience. I hope this is successful.
The cast is amazing, especially - for Spring Awakening fans - the great John Gallagher and, in an enseble role, Gerard Canonico, Broadway's two Moritz's.
BTW - spoiler alert, I guess - while I enjoyed the show and all the American Idiot songs, there's a bit of genius at the end, when the curtain call has the entire cast, on acoustic guitars, singing "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". What a special theatrical moment that is. |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
|
|
|
|
| 35 |
Fantastic ground breaking show Review by: Musicalguy, Apr 6, 2010 |
| I saw the show last week and thought it was fantastic. Very compelling staging with high energy choreography and wonderful design. The show captures a snapshot of young people wanting something more, and then not really finding it. The final song in the show was devastatingly simple. Orchestrations great, including the use of stringed instruments. Definitely a must see! |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Seniors, Tourists
|
|
|
|
|
| 36 |
Run away! Run Away! Review by: LoveBroadway, Apr 3, 2010 |
The cast is talented - this isn't their fault. The band is talented - this isn't their fault. The songs are good too - and would be quite appropriate for the stage if the right story were found. And that is the problem - the story. Or lack thereof.
There are 3 guys. Their lives suck. In the middle of the show, their lives still suck. And at the end of the show, their lives are still sucking.
Its like a Rent wannabe - and ... read more although I was never nuts about Rent - I sort of understood the appeal - but this? No.
Don't waste your money. Don't waste your time.
I paid over $120 for a ticket and will never go to a show in the St. James theatre again. The tiers are not sufficient to block an average sized head in the row ahead of you - the other theatres are much better. The guy in front of my wasn't THAT tall - but the theatre is not well layed out - and I paid way too much for a great view of the back of his head. My partner was lucky- the person in front of her didn't show up.
I'm generally quite easy to please. Not at all a theatre snob. I like Green Day. I like to see people successful.
But with so many great shows on Broadway - I regret that I wasted a precious evening seeing this when I could have seen something else. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
|
|
|
|
| 37 |
Move this show to the top of your priority list!!! You don't wanna miss it! Review by: DAREAW, Apr 2, 2010 |
| I saw the first night of previews and American Idiot instantly became my favorite musical I've ever seen. I've seem pretty much every musical currently playing on Broadway right now. Next to Normal and Billy Elliot were on my top list but "Idiot" was simply different. It's a show full of energy from beginning to end. The show's strongest creative factor is its lightning. Now I'm not a Green Day fan but I do have 2 or 3 of their songs on my ... read more iPod (but then again who doesn't), and I basically thought that this would be just a song cycle musical. It's NOT, it does have a book, even though it is very small. John Gallagher Jr is very talented as is the rest of the cast. Overall the show is very clever and entertaining. |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Anyone
|
|
|
|
|
| 38 |
The Emporer Has No Clothes Review by: 24h0urs, Apr 1, 2010 |
| I have never, and I mean, never, come out of a theater experience wanting the last two hours of my life back. Until tonight. My husband and I really like Green Day, and we were excited to see what kind of story line was going to be interwoven into their American Idiot album. The singers have very good voices; the musicians can hold their own with any great studio musicians. There were a ton of families with young teens and tweens - ... read more that probably wanted an inter-generaltional theater bonding experience. hmmm... yeah, no, that would have been a trainwreck. The in-your-face mainline heroin storyline was graphic, and commanded at least 2/3 of the play. The war storyline was expected, but there was a bizarre inclusion of extended scenes with men in tighty whities, and there was nothing left to anyone's imagination. I need to just say, yeah, the emperor has no clothes. This show lacks professional set design, it lacks a decent storyline, the choreography was amateurish and clunky, and Green Day's music, as great as it is, can't even save this disaster. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
|
|
|
|
| 39 |
Review by: leawoodcats, Mar 31, 2010 |
I don't know Green Day music, but still liked the show. You won't need to be in the front row, as the show is loud. Overall, this is more of a musical spectacular, than a classic Broadway musical. The story line is relatively week. The cast is large and is made up of extremely young and talented actors. Would recommend this especially for the young adult audience. Lighting effects and use of video were very effective.
|
|
|
My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 40 |
Disappointed Review by: leighm, Mar 31, 2010 |
Great music, great cast but no real storyline?! WTF?!!!!
This show had the potential to be great but instead it has a much of a storyline as Smokey Joes Cafe. The difference is that that show was billed as a revue. American Idiot needs to be billed as a Green Day musical revue because to bill it as anything more really is false advertising! |
|
|
My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 41 |
Not what i expected... Review by: Money, Mar 28, 2010 |
| So I saw American Idiot last night (saturday night- week 1 of previews) and I was a little disapointed. I really had high hopes for this show and could not wait to see it. The energy of the cast was great and they all had great voices, however the story was just blah and hard to follow. I left feeling like I didn;t fully know what the story was about. Also, I feel that the theatre was WAY too big for this musical. It should have been ... read more in a smaller theatre as I don't think it will attract that big of an audience every night. The second part of the show was a little bit of a drag. I was excited when the curtain came down. Go see Rock of Ages instead! It is a much better show. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
|
|
|
|
| 42 |
Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT has fantastic cast, stellar tech aspects.... but ultimately falls flat. Review by: watchoutforthattree, Mar 27, 2010 |
So, I just saw "opening night" (it's in technical previews) of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT at the St. James Theatre in New York. Thought I'd come back with a basic wrap-up.
I'm a Green Day fan, but probably not "the ultimate hardcore fan". I love the albums American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, and I like most of the tracks on Dookie and others. Yeah.... I'm that guy.
As for the show, all-in-all.... it's okay.
I mean,... read more, technically (sound, lighting, set, video work), it's ACES. Top notch. Quite awesome. Et cetera. Et cetera.
The cast has a TON of energy. The opening number (American Idiot) was STELLAR, as was Jesus of Suburbia.
However, from Holiday all the way up to Homecoming... the show kinda drags and falls a little flat. ...and for those of you that know the album, that's a pretty big chunk of it.
Although, the album is the backbone for the narrative, they've added in a few songs from 21st Century Breakdown (Know Your Enemy, 21 Guns, Last Night on Earth, Before the Lobotomy, Last of the American Girls), some b-sides/other-singles (Too Much Too Soon, Favorite Son), and even an unreleased song (When It's Time). These added songs happen, for the most part, within one solid block of the show. Therefore, if you're hoping to experience JUST the songs from American Idiot as a show, you may be disappointed.
There are some MINOR lyric changes here and there to fit the story (co-written by Billie Joe) such as in "Give Me Novocaine"... 'Jimmy says its better than air' is changed to 'Johnny says its better than here'. Like I said, minor.
I'm conflicted. The songs are great (great new arrangements of songs that breathe new life into familiar territory), the cast is immensely talented, and it looks and sounds amazing. Maybe it's just the story and the pacing. Kinda felt like they tried too hard in tying all the songs together in a story. I don't know...
Bottom line: If you're a Green Day fan (and I mean hardcore fan), you'll probably dig it. However, if you're NOT a Green Day fan, this show will not convert you at all. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Don't go
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
 |
I saw this show with:
Alone
|
Recommended for:
Tourists, Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 43 |
Great music but no story Review by: Flutters, Mar 26, 2010 |
| First, let me start off by saying I wanted to love this show. Green Day is a great band and American Idiot is one of their best albums. I was pleased to see almost every song from the album was performed in the show and there were a few from their latest album 21st Century Breakdown, including an amazing version of 21 Guns. The actors were all great. Their voices were wonderful and they did justice to all of the songs. I was ... read more also impressed with the fact that I saw the 2nd night of previews and everything seemed to move very smoothly like it was a show that has been on Broadway for months. My main gripe was that there really wasn't much of a story. The writers solely relied on the music to tell the story, which was hard to follow at times, particularly during a flying scene that completely felt out of place. As I said, I wanted to LOVE the show but walked away only liking it. |
|
|
My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
|
Recommended for:
Tourists, Adults
|
|
|
|
|
| 44 |
Electrifying and deep, passion filled story, a must see again and again. Review by: IdiotFan!, Mar 26, 2010 |
| My wife and I saw American Idiot last night, its second night of reviews. We both thought it was really an amazing show. Very powerful and deep. While neither of us are followers of the band their music is a story that is much better told on stage then over headphones. One note of caution, definitely do not bring your kids to this show since it has pretty harsh content but be prepared for a story thats all too familiar in our society. ... read more The message might not be taken well by all but its real for the storytellers and many others like them. I strongly suggest seeing this musical. If you are a follower of Green Day, you will have an even greater new found respect for them. |
|
|
My recommendation:
must see!
|
| Acting: |
|
| Music: |
|
| Production: |
|
| Story: |
|
I saw this show with:
Family
|
Recommended for:
Tourists, Adults
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
|
