Comments | spectralbovine: American Zombie

spectralbovine

American Zombie

Nov 11, 2009 21:13

In the last couple weeks, I've been to a lot of unconventional theatre.

Thanks to cofax7, I got to see American Idiot at Berkeley Rep for free the night before Halloween ($0), and I loved it so much I saw it again last night ($26). Now, I fully admit that my opinion about this show is heavily biased since I am a huge Green Day fan and think American ( Read more... )

i heart public transportation, theatre, it's a small world, music, pimpings, real life friends, personal

Comments 12

mcfeste November 12 2009, 05:34:31 UTC

So would you recommend I spend some time with the AI album before Saturday? I haven't actually listened to the whole thing, so I imagine I should at least be familiar with it.

spectralbovine November 12 2009, 05:38:34 UTC

Yes! I think it's better appreciated if you know the music, but that's because I love the music already. For this, though, it helped because I knew most of the words already, and so it was a fun experience to hear those words interpreted onstage. Obviously, you can still enjoy it if you're hearing all the songs for the first time, though; it wouldn't be a very good musical otherwise. (On the other hand, knowing the songs can be a bit distracting because you spend time waiting for the song you know comes after another one or hearing the first strains of an intro but wondering why the song isn't starting and stuff like that.)

In conclusion: do what you want!

mcfeste November 12 2009, 05:46:52 UTC

No, you're right, I'm going to track down my CD and put it in my car so I get plenty of exposure to it before Saturday. Especially since you said the plot is driven mostly by the songs themselves, so I want to make sure I understand all the lyrics. Three days isn't enough time to know the album so cold that I'll be distracted by over-familiarity, I don't think.

scifantasy November 12 2009, 06:37:10 UTC

I got to see American Idiot at Berkeley Rep for free the night before Halloween

Color me jealous. I was quite put out when I realized that the Berkeley Rep run of American Idiot wouldn't start until I was back here in NYC.

stephl November 12 2009, 14:43:53 UTC

Keeping with the zombie theme, I just got Breathers from the library yesterday. Haven't started it yet, but it looks pretty good. In a zombie way.

spectralbovine November 12 2009, 15:57:44 UTC

Let me know how it is. I've seen it, and it did seem amusing.

beeker121 November 12 2009, 21:17:19 UTC

The cute readhead who played piano - I've worked with her on a show at TW. She is just as awesome as she appears onstage.

(I rarely get to do hey I know that person and couldn't resist.)

spectralbovine November 12 2009, 22:42:53 UTC

Oh, cool!

bigboobedcanuck November 12 2009, 23:06:11 UTC

It's neat to hear about American Idiot from someone who isn't also a Spring Awakening fan! (It's the same creative team and some cast.) I will definitely be seeing it when it transfers to Broadway.

I really love John Gallagher Jr. (the lead), although he definitely has a nasal voice, I'll give you that. :) Just in case you're interested, here he is singing Bitch of Living from Spring Awakening. You should recognize Brian Clark Johnson (the bigger guy) as well, as he's in AI.

spectralbovine November 12 2009, 23:23:25 UTC

I've heard Spring Awakening is great, but I've never seen it. Thanks for that clip! John Gallagher Jr. looks and sounds so different there! How weird. And, yeah, that's the bigger guy all right.

bigboobedcanuck November 12 2009, 23:39:20 UTC

It really is a great show. I saw it for the first time a year ago (with mcfeste) and we were immediately obsessed.

I also enjoy this performance from The View (the guy to the left of John is Gerard Canonico, who was in AI as well) and the Tony performance is a good (albeit censored) overview. :)

I could talk SA all day, so I'll stop now!