A ROCK CONCERT FOR LOST SOULS
Philemon Wright students shine in a mix of punk and social commentary
American Idiot Where: Philemon Wright High School Director: Phillip Holmes
The album from which it takes its name is described as pure, uninterrupted chaos, and the band that performs it, Green Day, is known for their frenzied and dynamic live shows. Therefore it is unsurprising that American Idiot, performed by Philemon Wright High School, crashes through the barriers set up by traditional musicals to feed the audience a politically charged story in the form of a rock concert.
This rock opera is a stage adaptation of punk rock band Green Day’s album, “American Idiot.” Developed almost exclusively though song, the story features a group of disaffected youth: Johnny, Tunny and Will. Frustrated with the mindlessness of the suburban lifestyle and seeking a purpose, each one forges his own path; Will stays home to face his impending fatherhood, Tunny is seduced by patriotic advertisements, and the unwashed Johnny, driven by rebellion and drugs, is accompanied by his outrageous alter ego, St. Jimmy, in his search for meaning.
Gabe Sanchez (Johnny) displayed an incredible stylistic range in his performance. As adept at mimicking a druginduced hysteria as he was at serenading his lover while she slept, he gave his character a quirky, cynical edge. David MacIntyre (Tunny), and James Thompson (Will), entered the stage with an aggressive yet playful jostling match, and instantly created an authentic brotherly bond between the three boys that would last for the entire show.
Alicia Bellavance (Whatshername), Keva Bunge (Heather) and Tillie Roy (Extraordinary Girl) complemented each of their male counterparts. Their emotional performances were varied and compelling, and revealed the many complications in modern love stories.
With very little dialogue, the costumes and choreography were used to express characters’ emotional development. Student choreographers Taeyun Moon and Jessie Cullen used angry, frantic movements to punctuate the early songs, while slower, contemplative dancing reflected the three men bemoaning their outcast states. The enormous cast was entirely committed to their roles, and moved in a chaotic yet cohesive group across the small stage.
Upon first glance, the set was as chaotic as the cast it housed. Graffiti covered the walls, and each glance offered up a new detail to be examined more closely. Multiple levels and balconies gave the limited space greater dimension, and allowed the actors to swing from beams and make flying jumps from one level to the next. The red ladder, brought out for St. Jimmy’s entrance and exit, added an element of danger and movement to the static set pieces. Steady spotlights were used to separate the stage into different spaces, creating the illusion of isolation.
Philemon Wright High School’s American Idiot was unpredictable, but was exactly the right mix of punk rock and social commentary. In the last number, the entire cast filled the stage and sang acoustically with an introspective tone that emphasized that this rock opera is more than a progression of angry songs; it is a tribute to a generation of lost souls. Next review: Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School’s production of Nunsense: The Mega Musical.