Review: The LOT's AMERICAN IDIOT Is High Energy Rock And Roll

Greenday's musical AMERICAN IDIOT is as close as most theatregoers will get to a rock concert - save for ROCK OF AGES. The Lower Ossington Theatre's production of the Tony Award winning musical written by Billie Joe Armstrong stays true to the show's rock and roll energy, but makes it its own with impeccable casting.

In telling the story of three young men on the search for a fulfilling rock music career, the show bridges the gap between musical theatre lovers and Greenday fanatics. If you come for the story, you'll stay for the score. If you come for the score, well, you'll stay for the Greenday tribute concert.

While the show's touching story line touches on relatable themes like love and ambition, and dark themes like drugs, the story takes a back seat to the music. The story acts more as a way to visualize the story already told through the lyrics.

The LOT made the show its own with its authentic looking costuming. Considering the rock and roll themes in the show, the show is in danger of coming off as over the top, but the LOT's costuming is the right level of rock, grunge and, of course, angst. The LOT stays true to the shows origins but makes it distinctly its own production with high-energy dance numbers choreographed by Miles Faber and its impeccable casting.

It's not a stretch to say that the show's casting is what makes the show, and the venue itself, stand out from the many other stagings of the show. The show's three main players; Johnny, Will and Tunny, respectively played by Mike Buchanan, Luiz Dasilva and Evan Taylor Benyacar, carry most of the show's score and emotional weight on the shoulders. Their chemistry and similar sounds come together on stage in a way that is organic and, quite honestly, beautiful. If for no other reasons, theatregoers should come to the show to hear these three actors perform a Greenday concert of epic proportions.

The choice of casting Buchanan as the show's key anti-hero and main character, Johnny, is a brilliant one as black hair, long bangs and dramatic eye makeup transforms him into nothing less than a rock god. Greenday fans will be happy with the LOT's choice of someone with musical stylings so close to that of the band. Buchanan's talent is a package deal as he has major acting chops to help compliment his vocal talents. The way he belts out tunes is the one element that makes the show stand out as a performance rather than a sing-through of the American Idiot album. Paired with the vocal talents of his two main co-stars, Buchanan shines in the show as a leading character we both criticize and sympathize with at the same time.

While the lead characters command the stage, there is something to be said about the stand out side character St. Jimmy, whose backstory and development can be considered the heart of the show. As Jimmy, actor Andrew Perry will make every audience member do a double take. His costuming matched with his talent makes for an unforgettable character who steals every scene he's in. He nails creepy and hard-core rock and roll in a way that not many can.

The emotionally driven story full of life and angst is a tragically beautiful one, but the story is not what shines through in this production of the show. The impeccable casting makes you fall in love with not only the leading characters, but the ensemble and the numerous roles they take on.

The LOT's production of AMERICAN IDIOT is for fans of Greenday who want to visualize the story their favourite songs tell, and for theatre nerds who want to witness an emotional story and hear those songs that they didn't even realize they knew.

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