I Don't Really Want to be an American Idiot

[Alaina Phillips]

Alaina Phillips
American Idiot
I Don't Really Want to be an American Idiot

    
    American Idiot is definitely not a traditional broadway production, but rather more of a documentary following the life of Jonny, played by Van Hughes, and his chaotic life. With this being a highly anticipated show for me, I was not nearly as impressed as I should have been. American Idiot is at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN through february 26th.
    I love Green Day and their music, so when I walked into American Idiot I didn’t really know what to expect. Yes, the music was fantastic and the actors did a fabulous job, but no, I was not nearly as impressed as I had expected. The show really didn’t have a story line, or at least one that I could follow, and throughout most of the it I really didn’t know what was going on. To me, the show was too hyped up for the performance that I received. I know that they actors gave it their all, and they were extremely talented, it’s just that the script wasn’t very strong or easy to follow. I feel like they threw random songs into the show and tried to create a scattered story.
    Using renditions of songs originally sung by Green Day, and a live band on stage, actors really shined during their solos and ensemble pieces. The dances and acting was phenomenal, but again I really didn’t understand too much of it. Maybe it’s because I’m too young to understand, or it’s just that there really is not story. Aside from that, the singing was amazing. Every note and word sounded perfect, and the actors were very strong singers. 
    To me, the thing that really made the show was the technical elements of it, and the acrobatic performance during “Extraordinary Girl”. The set contained around twenty televisions which played different clips, which really helped put the scene together and make it look more realistic. The only negative lighting element was the strobe lights that they were facing towards the audience, being too bright they started giving me a headache.
    In the end, I wouldn’t really recommend this to someone who isn’t a lover of Green Day, or cannot tolerate bright lights. It really did become more of a concert, and less of a broadway production.
    
    

[Nyssa Jorenby]

I like your review. I think you really brought in your feelings about the show good job. I think  you should have added the crazy guy to add more words.

[Alaina Phillips]

OH! I totally forgot to add something about the crazy guy in the audience! (: I would have said something like:

My experience couldn't have gone more downhill from the wonderful performance that I had received sitting in the audience. Turns out people don't like to follow the rules, and decide to take videos of the performances. Well, the ushers at the Orpheum didn't agree with him, and decided to remove him. Being a sassy man, he decided to mouth off to people around him, making everyone in the audience pay attention to that show instead of what was going on in American Idiot.

[Dudley Voigt]

I like your title!  Your opening paragraph packs a lot of info in with clarity.  The strongest parts of your review are when you support your opinion with specific details from the show.  Since you probably could have had another paragraph without hitting the 500 word mark, what other elements or details could you have described to give the reader a clearer understanding of your experience?