Reviews: American Idiot at Hayfield SS
Written by Casey Abbott of James Madison High School
Raw, electric, and poignantly political, Hayfield Secondary Schools production of the rock revolution, American Idiot, will have your fist raised high in the air with the power of teenage angst.
The distinctly American and wildly powerful jukebox musical, American Idiot, was based on Green Day's 2004 concept album by the same name. Written by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer, it premiered in September of 2009, going to Broadway in April of 2010. Thematically, the musical is everything the album is and more, following Johnny and his two friends Tunny and Will as they attempt to escape the agitating confines of American suburbia and venture into the city. However, the challenges of the 'real world' attack them along their way, Will gets his girlfriend Heather pregnant, Tunny is propagandized to join the military, and Johnny develops a drug abuse addiction, causing him to lose his love, Whatsername. As he devolves into this abuse, his chaotic alter ego, St. Jimmy grows stronger, foreboding the lingering consequences of Johnny's actions.
Clad in fishnets, band t-shirts, and camouflage, the ensemble painted a sullen picture of suburban teenage life. With a zombie-like energy, and rock n' roll vocal characterization, the show felt like the mosh pit of a concert, loudly amplifying the messages of the album it was based on. In other words, Hayfield's production dripped with the purest kind of teenage rage.
As if he was plucked from a 90s garage band himself, Aaron Guerrero's stylized vocals fit perfectly into the edgy, alternative nature of his character. From high-energy group numbers like "American Idiot" to tear-jerking solos like "Wake Me up When September Ends", Guerrero showed incredible consistency in his character, while also carefully accentuating the depressive ups and downs that come with addiction.
Uncannily looming over the stage, Cecilia Dorrity's portrayal of St. Jimmy was magnetic. With an acidic energy and slinking, snakelike physicality, Dorrity brought the over-the-top sinfulness of the character to life. Her presence was utterly entrancing, commanding each vocal moment, especially in her introductory song, "St. Jimmy" where her punky, rugged voice embodied the chaos of her character. The havoc she wreaked was beautifully opposed by the calm reassuring presence of Josie Sinniger as Whatsername. Her standout vocals were a highlight of the production, especially in each heartbreakingly high note of her solo, Letterbomb. Her rage and intensity in this song contrasted her previous serenity, showing the facets of her mysterious, nameless character.
Vibrant, concert-style lighting electrified the whole production, flawlessly timed with each song, beat, and lyric. Lighting crew chiefs Marley Peterson and Wren Randolph used boldly colorful washes to immerse the audience into the head-banging world of the show. The color of each bright flash was meticulously decided on, either to reflect aspects of each character or to magnify the encroaching themes of the story, with one example being the growing use of red lights as a warning sign of the turbulent future.
Decked out in eyeliner and hair dye, each character's hair and makeup both revealed personalities and showed impressive accuracy to the late 90s/early 2000s era. Hair and makeup captain Raegan Parker used edginess to her advantage, providing each lead role with an accent hair dye color that represented their character.
Hayfield's production of American Idiot was raw, guttural, and nothing short of rock n' roll. However, their balance of angst and emotion was what sold the performance, asking the audience to face reality headfirst, rather than running away from it.
Written by Courtney Weldon of The New School of Northern VA
In a world where suburban landscapes often blend into a blur of conformity and monotony, Green Day's music provoked the restless spirit of the youth. So, sling on a guitar, haul out some drumsticks, and blast the stereo system, for Hayfield Secondary School has fused punk rock with bold, visual storytelling in this rock musical production of American Idiot.
American Idiot first opened at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009, and later premiered on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in April 2010. The show's score was based on Green Day's Grammy Award-winning concept album of the same title, with lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, and the book written by Armstrong and director Michael Mayer. Set against the backdrop of a fractured America, this punk rock opera follows the journeys of the close-knit trio - Johnny, Tunny, and Will - as they navigate a post-9/11 world and struggle to find meaning in their lives. With minimal spoken dialogue, the narrative depends on the lyrics to guide the story as it closely explores themes of rebellion, propaganda, disillusionment, and the search for identity in this dynamic, innovative musical.
Aaron Guerrero instantly captured the frustrations and hysteria of Johnny. Bringing a reckless energy and striking edge to his performance, Guerrero characterized his vocals with a raw, emotionally charged tone, fueling anger and passion in his delivery as the show's intensity increased. Accompanying Guerrero as Tunny and Will were Sunny Potvin and Isaac Dorrity, who each grasped their character's challenges and grappled with the difficulties of their lives through angsty but nuanced portrayals. Another standout was Josie Sinniger, who demonstrated fierce, dominant vocals as Whatsername. Particularly on the track "Letterbomb," Sinniger channeled her character's burning anger, rage, and sorrow at leaving Johnny, showcasing her prevalent vocal prowess and expressive range as an actor.
Regarding the primary stage set, Hayfield's set design team (Allison Rigsbee, Dominic Sotallaro, and Charlie Fink) created the show's backdrop with a 2000s mall scene, drawing most of their inspiration from Fair Oaks Mall in their research and incorporating popular storefronts in their design. To make their setup more authentic, they also engineered a moving escalator using four under-desk treadmills to serve as a ramp for the trio to walk up. To distinguish separate parts of their set, they constructed a smaller area for Johnny's bedroom while still including detailed elements, such as empty red Solo cups on the floor, a disheveled twin bed, and a guitar leaning against a brick wall.
Another critical component driving the performance was the choreography (Angela Gray, Maddie Meshanko, Karen Board, and Shanti Rojas), which served as the show's predominant form of expression, conveying the characters' internalized thoughts about their personal barriers and further elevating the depth of the storyline.
The show's powerful message about the effects of isolation and the struggle for identity is intended to resonate with audiences on a deeply emotional level. With talent spread across the cast and crew, Hayfield Secondary School's production of American Idiot presented a compelling and impactful show that effectively portrayed the show's relevant themes through a lens of youthful rebellion and raw sincerity.