American Idiot - The Musical

The Hammersmith Apollo is packed with excited Green Day fans, all waiting to see American Idiot, The Musical. My best friend Kim, her mother Kathy and I were a part of the crowd.

The show started with a collection of different headline news stories, being displayed on the huge TV screens, then American Idiot kicked in. The cast were incredible - brilliant singers, dancers and actors. It was a shame that they weren't the original cast but they were still mind blowing. The music sent shivers down my spine.

The script was very funny with strong language all the way through. The main charecter, Johnny/The Jesus of Suburbia often talks in the dairy form. I don't know if the cast I saw were American themselves.

The set was amazing too. The back of the stage was covered in various sizes of TV screens. These don't switch off and show lyrics, pictures of disasters, the heart grenade and during Wake me Up When September Ends, childhood photos. These are really effective, because as well as the coloured lightings they give a glow to the stage and help tell the story. They give off a message. Take, for example - towards the end of Letterbomb. Johnny is lying on his bag with Whatsername stood over him she is raising and lowering her hand over his chest, him rising up as though he's being pulled. As the song ends, she raises her hand into the air and Johnny stops moving. The screens show a picture of the iconic Heart Grenade, symbolizing Whatsername is done with Johnny but will always have his heart.

The band are on stage at all times. They were absolutly incredible. They interacted with the cast which made it feel like they were actually there behind the cast. The music was great and the way each song was used to tell the story was perfect. Every song has a meaning to the musical. Some songs pulled on the heartstrings, like 21 Guns and Wake Me Up When September Ends. There were two songs I hadn't heard before, When It's Time and Favourite Son. I think these add to making the musical unique, different and special in the world of rock operas.

At the end of the musical, the whole cast came out with Acousitc Guitars and sung Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). It felt like a thank you, making everyone love the cast more. They all looked so pleased and grateful to see us.

American Idiot changed my view on this world and showed me what sort of place we live in. It is by far the best musical I have ever seen and it's such a shame that all Green Day fans didn't get the oppertunity to see it. It as a must - see for fans and haters alike, simply because it speaks the truth and highlights how messed up the country is.