#BrumHour Networking with Birmingham
Join #BrumHour Sundays at 8pm on Twitter to network with #Birmingham
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • About #BrumHour
  • Blog Archive (2016-18)
  • Sponsoring BrumHour
American Idiot Production photo by Mark Dawson Photography
11th April, 2019

Review: Green Day’s American Idiot at The Alexandra, Birmingham

BrumHour saw Green Day’s American Idiot at the invite of The Alexandra.

By Julie Wallis twitter.com/NiceNice63

Green Day’s American Idiot
at The Alexandra

Music by Green Day, Lyrics by Billy Joe Armstrong, Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer, Director and choreographer: Racky Plews.

Green Day’s American Idiot is at The Alexandra until 13th April

Johnny (Tom Milner) and his friends Tunny (Joshua Dowen) and Will (Samuel Pope) are all living hopeless lives and try to be better people after 9/11 .  Johnny proclaims himself to be Jesus of Suburbia and embarks on a passionate affair with both a sultry woman only known as Whatsername (Sam Lavery)  and hard drugs.

Tunny finds his purpose in life by enlisting in the Army, but after an accident finds himself confined to a wheelchair. Will tries to live life in the suburbs with his pregnant girlfriend, but instead of becoming a family man, slowly falls back into smoking weed and spending all his time glued to his sofa playing video games. Until his girlfriend played by Laura Marie Benson leaves him.

American Idiot Production photo by Mark Dawson Photography

Green Day’s American Idiot is not at all what I was expecting. I knew it had a whole lot of well known songs from the band Green Day, and for whatever reason I thought it was telling a story about the band, but I was wrong. Much like the musical Mama Mia uses the songs from ABBA to tell a story about a girl and her wedding, American Idiot uses the songs of Green Day to tell the story of  three stoner friends after 9/11 and how their lives pan out.

With a live band on stage throughout and a breathtaking special effect whilst Tunny is having hallucinations whilst under the influence of drugs to numb his pain and the nurse in her scrubs changes into a showgirl style sequined bikini in exactly no time at all. She just bought the wings of her cloak together and changed her outfit. My jaw dropped and I found myself asking “how?”

The songs are phenomenal and include American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, 21 Guns and Wake me up When September Ends.  This show is a wonderful tribute to the songs of Green Day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, it seems I was not alone either as the show finished with a rousing standing ovation from a very enthusiastic audience.

American Idiot Production photo by Mark Dawson Photography

American Idiot does have a fairly large cast and the singing is terrific including Luke Friend as St Jimmy with plenty of ‘oomph’ from all the cast. I’m always impressed when some dainty girl belts out a huge tune. This show is jam packed with energy and emotions.

American Idiot was a wonderful night out, totally different to my expectations but still a thumpingly good show with an outstanding cast. Green Day fans will not be disappointed.

American Idiot Production photo by Mark Dawson Photography

Book tickets to see Green Day’s American Idiot which is at The Alexandra until 13th April here: atgtickets.com/shows/american-idiot/alexandra-theatre-birmingham


This isn’t a sponsored post.

When not blogging theatre for #BrumHour, Julie Wallis can be found on her own blog at redandgoldweb.wordpress.com

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Experience: A cocktail masterclass with Ikoyi Chapmans Dog owners: Woof Run is coming to Solihull
Peter (Lawrence Walker) Wendy (Cora Tsang) Michael (Mollie Lambert) and the Lost Ones photo by Johan Persson
Theatre and Arts

Review: Peter Pan – Reimagined at Birmingham Rep

Miracle on 34th Street
Theatre and Arts

Review: Miracle on 34th Street at The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham

Aladdin at Blue Orange Theatre
Theatre and Arts

Review: Aladdin at Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham

Search

Recent Posts

  • Review: Peter Pan – Reimagined at Birmingham Rep
  • Review: Miracle on 34th Street at The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
  • Review: Aladdin at Blue Orange Theatre, Birmingham

Follow BrumHour on Twitter

My Tweets

Categories

  • Business
  • Community
  • Experience
  • Food and Drink
  • Theatre and Arts
  • Things to do
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • About #BrumHour
  • Blog Archive (2016-18)
  • Sponsoring BrumHour
© BrumHour 2019