American Idiot Musical (Theatrical Production)

[J'net]

Agreed! If I had the money, I'd go see it every Saturday.

<sigh> me too

[your MOM]

~first post zomg~

I've been lurking this thread since the summer, though. This Saturday I was fortunate enough to hang out with Justin (oh hey there), and found out he's the MassHysteria who posts about 23847929 times a day.

I actually HAVE gone to see the show once every weekend since previews -- but I'm not going to go back until closing because I kind of went broke. OH WELL. A change I wanted to bring up -- and I don't know if anyone else noticed, or if I'm just being delusional -- is the way Johnny delivers his monologues. At the beginning of previews and on the 11th, he was bitter and sarcastic in tone from the very beginning. On the 18th/19th, I noticed a lot more...well, RAGE in his delivery. He seemed angrier and less defeated/cynical, and I actually love the new delivery. This way, it's easier to picture Johnny as a frustrated young man who runs away to find something better than his current life instead of this bitter little shit who runs away because he's GIVING UP on his "miserable existence".

[J'net]

~first post zomg~

I've been lurking this thread since the summer, though. This Saturday I was fortunate enough to hang out with Justin (oh hey there), and found out he's the MassHysteria who posts about 23847929 times a day.

I actually HAVE gone to see the show once every weekend since previews -- but I'm not going to go back until closing because I kind of went broke. OH WELL. A change I wanted to bring up -- and I don't know if anyone else noticed, or if I'm just being delusional -- is the way Johnny delivers his monologues. At the beginning of previews and on the 11th, he was bitter and sarcastic in tone from the very beginning. On the 18th/19th, I noticed a lot more...well, RAGE in his delivery. He seemed angrier and less defeated/cynical, and I actually love the new delivery. This way, it's easier to picture Johnny as a frustrated young man who runs away to find something better than his current life instead of this bitter little shit who runs away because he's GIVING UP on his "miserable existence".

Hi! Welcome to the Posting element of the forum . Thanks so much for your comments. I saw the first 2 previews, and I love hearing about the changes that have been made. This one sounds like it makes so much sense!

[TheBullwinkle]

I really like this part:

Tré: "Hey, you guys put us on the cover and didn't tell us. So, I'm walking through the grocery store and this MILF comes up to me and has a copy of Diablo and says, 'Will you sign my magazine?'...I said, 'F*** yeah!' "

I loled.

[JHyena86]

Another review/coverage article:

http://www.diablomag.com/D-blog/Petes-Popc...American-Idiot/

I really like this part:

Tré: "Hey, you guys put us on the cover and didn't tell us. So, I'm walking through the grocery store and this MILF comes up to me and has a copy of Diablo and says, 'Will you sign my magazine?'...I said, 'F*** yeah!' "

Good read. I liked the part with Mike and Billie's mom, that was sweet. And lol at Tre.

[sallysimpson]

<sigh> me too

I totally did that when Tommy was on b'way. Maybe when AI hits . . . .

[Mar]

Another review/coverage article:

http://www.diablomag.com/D-blog/Petes-Popc...American-Idiot/

I really like this part:

Tré: "Hey, you guys put us on the cover and didn't tell us. So, I'm walking through the grocery store and this MILF comes up to me and has a copy of Diablo and says, 'Will you sign my magazine?'...I said, 'F*** yeah!' "

And I love the bit about Mike and Billie Joe's mom, that was sweet.

[MassHysteria]

And I love the bit about Mike and Billie Joe's mom, that was sweet.

She was at the Friday performance, along with his brother and high school music teacher. All very nice people to talk to, you can tell how she just radiates with pride when she talks about Billie. Weirdly his brother recognized me from the SLC show.

[laurelw]

i meant the 32 page souvenir book miss_ing was asking for.

i would be interested as well but i´m too ashamed to ask someone, cause i don´t know anyone here.

I would scan it, but the problem is that opening the book all the way to scan the pages would kind of ruin the book, because it's not exactly soft like the free program. I'll take another look at it tonight, and see if it can be done without ruining it. We are going again on the very last night, so if anyone wants one, and they still have them, I'd be happy to buy one and send it to you. Just pm me.

[simone18]

I would scan it, but the problem is that opening the book all the way to scan the pages would kind of ruin the book, because it's not exactly soft like the free program. I'll take another look at it tonight, and see if it can be done without ruining it. We are going again on the very last night, so if anyone wants one, and they still have them, I'd be happy to buy one and send it to you. Just pm me.

i see, don´t try it if you´d ruin your book...

[MassHysteria]

Plot point question for everyone:

OK, so thinking further about the show, I am still not sure why St. Jimmy sings his part of Last Night On Earth. I like Tony singing it, but I'm still not sure what his character's motivation is for singing it. Any theories? Am I just missing something that should be extremely obvious?

[MassHysteria]

Another review, quite negative (and yes, they didn't like the Extraordinary Girl stuff either):

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2...at-Berkeley-Rep

But, here is a more positive review *edit* make that two:

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...S=fzzzd3sk.24z9

http://www.thecampanil.com/2009/09/23/gree...sical-delivers/

[J'net]

Plot point question for everyone:

OK, so thinking further about the show, I am still not sure why St. Jimmy sings his part of Last Night On Earth. I like Tony singing it, but I'm still not sure what his character's motivation is for singing it. Any theories? Am I just missing something that should be extremely obvious?

I have a lot of thoughts on this topic, but as I try to express them here in words, they don't seem to be making much sense. I'll try to put some thought into how I could explain it and respond later.

[GDM]

Hello from Oakland!!

I'm so happy to be here!!

Hello from Oakland!!

I'm so happy to be here!!

[J'net]

Hello from Oakland!!

I'm so happy to be here!!

Hello from Oakland!!

I'm so happy to be here!!

If you say it one more time, I'll believe you !!!

[woven_basketcase]

I got the program in the mail from Zoe today. Its wonderful.

[thoroughlyme]

Plot point question for everyone:

OK, so thinking further about the show, I am still not sure why St. Jimmy sings his part of Last Night On Earth. I like Tony singing it, but I'm still not sure what his character's motivation is for singing it. Any theories? Am I just missing something that should be extremely obvious?

ok, so the way I see it is that it's possible that St. Jimmy knew Whatsername before Johnny met her, and that he had secret feelings for her, and he was expressing them through this song.

But that's just my thoughts on it

[J'net]

Plot point question for everyone:

OK, so thinking further about the show, I am still not sure why St. Jimmy sings his part of Last Night On Earth. I like Tony singing it, but I'm still not sure what his character's motivation is for singing it. Any theories? Am I just missing something that should be extremely obvious?

Okay, I'm going to try to be coherent after my big glass of MILK!

So, we know Jimmy is Johnny, right? But they are portrayed as two separate people. I feel Jimmy is singing about his love for Johnny. In other words, Johnny is struggling to learn to love every facet of himself - "My beating heart belongs to you" is a really telling line. That's the one I felt was strongest when Jimmy was singing this song. He is singing it to Johnny (who can also be seen as himself).

Tell me if you think this makes any sense at all. I'll be so thrilled if it does!

[Marie_GD]

Okay, I'm going to try to be coherent after my big glass of MILK!

So, we know Jimmy is Johnny, right? But they are portrayed as two separate people. I feel Jimmy is singing about his love for Johnny. In other words, Johnny is struggling to learn to love every facet of himself - "My beating heart belongs to you" is a really telling line. That's the one I felt was strongest when Jimmy was singing this song. He is singing it to Johnny (who can also be seen as himself).

Tell me if you think this makes any sense at all. I'll be so thrilled if it does!

Hmm... it makes sense to me

[sallysimpson]

Hello from Oakland!!

I'm so happy to be here!!

Hello from Oakland!!

I'm so happy to be here!!

Woo Hoo!!!! Congrats and enjoy. And if you see Billie Joe, plant a big wet kiss on him for me.

Dawn

[sallysimpson]

Plot point question for everyone:

OK, so thinking further about the show, I am still not sure why St. Jimmy sings his part of Last Night On Earth. I like Tony singing it, but I'm still not sure what his character's motivation is for singing it. Any theories? Am I just missing something that should be extremely obvious?

Ok, here's my $0.02. Keep in mind that I'm working completely on memory, so if I get the details wrong, feel free to correct me. Oh, and as usual, this is long. Sorry. I can't write anything brief.

St. Jimmy is Johnny. He's what Johnny's rage and frustration creates, and he's Johnny's internal escape. Basically, he is Johnny's (and others') addiction personified. In "St. Jimmy", the cast lines up, anxious for a fix. He provides for each but he also causes each one of them pain. And then he provides Johnny with the drugs -- with no exchange of money -- ever. If he is a drug dealer, that's one generous dealer. :wink:

The only time that Jimmy and Johnny actually face each other to interact is when Jimmy gives Johnny drugs. The other times they are both on stage, either 1) Jimmy stands behind Johnny and moves almost exactly as Johnny does or 2) stands above Johnny and provides commentary through the music, which is what I think he's doing in Last Night on Earth. Johnny's own addiction (St. Jimmy) sings "My beating heart belongs to you / I walk for miles till I found you" to him. I agree with J'net -- Jimmy loves Johnny because he is Johnny. As addiction personified, Jimmy provides Johnny escape from his pain, but simultaneously shackles him. And the choreography between Johnny and Whatshername supports this -- they are literally bound by their individual addictions. The key relationship isn't between Johnny and Whatshername -- the relationship is between Johnny and his addiction. I think you mentioned that Whatshername also sings bits of Last Night on Earth, which I think is a foreshadowing of the competition between Whatshername and the addiction (St Jimmy).

But a couple of things really clinched it for me -- In one of Johnny's monologues, he says "she calls me Jimmy -- guess that's better than Whatshisname". And during the scene where Johnny's singing "tell me when it's time" and Jimmy sings "Know your enemy" Jimmy moves in and out of that room without any problem and without any sort of acknowledgment by Whatshername. It's clear she is threatened by the hold the drugs have on Johnny, which she gets rid of. But she can't get rid of St Jimmy/Johnny's addiction, which she realizes when she sees the contract between Johnny and St. Jimmy, ensuring Johnny sells his soul to his addiction,. And this betrayal/rejection sets her off.

In the death of St. Jimmy, St. Jimmy commits mock suicide ("Bang") and laughs while Johnny sings, "Jimmy died today . . . . it's my own private suicide" -- a moment for me, anyways, where the show actually enhanced the music -- this begs the question to what extent Johnny will keep St. Jimmy alive. Johnny needed Jimmy because of all his unresolved frustration and rage -- and none of that has really gone away. He still has exactly the same problems he had before he left jiggletown, and now likely has even more.

Whether this answers your question or not, I don't think you're missing anything obvious -- I think it's purposely vague. And alot of what this piece means (whether the album or the show) is what experiences you bring to it. That's what makes it interesting. And it's what makes it possible for you to have a very positive response to what's come to be known as "The Scene" while I have a really negative response. It's art. And unless you're being graded, there's no way you can be wrong. Following your initial emotional response usually leads to meaningful insights and interesting discussion with others.

Edited September 25, 2009 by sallysimpson

[J'net]

Ok, here's my $0.02. Keep in mind that I'm working completely on memory, so if I get the details wrong, feel free to correct me. Oh, and as usual, this is long. Sorry. I can't write anything brief.

St. Jimmy is Johnny. He's what Johnny's rage and frustration creates, and he's Johnny's internal escape. Basically, he is Johnny's (and others') addiction personified. In "St. Jimmy", the cast lines up, anxious for a fix. He provides for each but he also causes each one of them pain. And then he provides Johnny with the drugs -- with no exchange of money -- ever. If he is a drug dealer, that's one generous dealer. :wink:

The only time that Jimmy and Johnny actually face each other to interact is when Jimmy gives Johnny drugs. The other times they are both on stage, either 1) Jimmy stands behind Johnny and moves almost exactly as Johnny does or 2) stands above Johnny and provides commentary through the music, which is what I think he's doing in Last Night on Earth. Johnny's own addiction (St. Jimmy) sings "My beating heart belongs to you / I walk for miles till I found you" to him. And the choreography between Johnny and Whatshername supports this -- they are literally bound by their individual addictions. The key relationship isn't between Johnny and Whatshername -- the relationship is between Johnny and his addiction. I think you mentioned that Whatshername also sings bits of Last Night on Earth, which I think is a foreshadowing of the competition between Whatshername and the addiction (St Jimmy).

But a couple of things really clinched it for me -- In one of Johnny's monologues, he says "she calls me Jimmy -- guess that's better than Whatshisname". And during the scene where Johnny's singing "tell me when it's time" and Jimmy sings "Know your enemy" Jimmy moves in and out of that room without any problem and without any sort of acknowledgment by Whatshername. It's clear she is threatened by the hold the drugs have on Johnny, which she gets rid of. But she can't get rid of St Jimmy/Johnny's addiction, which she realizes when she sees the contract between Johnny and St. Jimmy, ensuring Johnny sells his soul to his addiction,. And this betrayal/rejection sets her off.

In the death of St. Jimmy, St. Jimmy commits mock suicide ("Bang") and laughs while Johnny sings, "Jimmy died today . . . . it's my own private suicide" -- a moment for me, anyways, where the show actually enhanced the music -- this begs the question to what extent Johnny will keep St. Jimmy alive. Johnny needed Jimmy because of all his unresolved frustration and rage -- and none of that has really gone away. He still has exactly the same problems he had before he left jiggletown, and now likely has even more.

Whether this answers your question or not, I don't think you're missing anything obvious -- I think it's purposely vague. And alot of what this piece means (whether the album or the show) is what experiences you bring to it. That's what makes it interesting. And it's what makes it possible for you to have a very positive response to what's come to be known as "The Scene" while I have a really negative response. It's art. And unless you're being graded, there's no way you can be wrong. Following your initial emotional response usually leads to meaningful insights and interesting discussion with others.

I agree so much with what you've said. It says a lot of what I tried to express but it felt so nebulous to me. You've done a great job of remembering details that I forgot and then putting it into words. THANKS!

[MassHysteria]

Ok, here's my $0.02. Keep in mind that I'm working completely on memory, so if I get the details wrong, feel free to correct me. Oh, and as usual, this is long. Sorry. I can't write anything brief.

St. Jimmy is Johnny. He's what Johnny's rage and frustration creates, and he's Johnny's internal escape. Basically, he is Johnny's (and others') addiction personified. In "St. Jimmy", the cast lines up, anxious for a fix. He provides for each but he also causes each one of them pain. And then he provides Johnny with the drugs -- with no exchange of money -- ever. If he is a drug dealer, that's one generous dealer. :wink:

The only time that Jimmy and Johnny actually face each other to interact is when Jimmy gives Johnny drugs. The other times they are both on stage, either 1) Jimmy stands behind Johnny and moves almost exactly as Johnny does or 2) stands above Johnny and provides commentary through the music, which is what I think he's doing in Last Night on Earth. Johnny's own addiction (St. Jimmy) sings "My beating heart belongs to you / I walk for miles till I found you" to him. And the choreography between Johnny and Whatshername supports this -- they are literally bound by their individual addictions. The key relationship isn't between Johnny and Whatshername -- the relationship is between Johnny and his addiction. I think you mentioned that Whatshername also sings bits of Last Night on Earth, which I think is a foreshadowing of the competition between Whatshername and the addiction (St Jimmy).

But a couple of things really clinched it for me -- In one of Johnny's monologues, he says "she calls me Jimmy -- guess that's better than Whatshisname". And during the scene where Johnny's singing "tell me when it's time" and Jimmy sings "Know your enemy" Jimmy moves in and out of that room without any problem and without any sort of acknowledgment by Whatshername. It's clear she is threatened by the hold the drugs have on Johnny, which she gets rid of. But she can't get rid of St Jimmy/Johnny's addiction, which she realizes when she sees the contract between Johnny and St. Jimmy, ensuring Johnny sells his soul to his addiction,. And this betrayal/rejection sets her off.

In the death of St. Jimmy, St. Jimmy commits mock suicide ("Bang") and laughs while Johnny sings, "Jimmy died today . . . . it's my own private suicide" -- a moment for me, anyways, where the show actually enhanced the music -- this begs the question to what extent Johnny will keep St. Jimmy alive. Johnny needed Jimmy because of all his unresolved frustration and rage -- and none of that has really gone away. He still has exactly the same problems he had before he left jiggletown, and now likely has even more.

Whether this answers your question or not, I don't think you're missing anything obvious -- I think it's purposely vague. And alot of what this piece means (whether the album or the show) is what experiences you bring to it. That's what makes it interesting. And it's what makes it possible for you to have a very positive response to what's come to be known as "The Scene" while I have a really negative response. It's art. And unless you're being graded, there's no way you can be wrong. Following your initial emotional response usually leads to meaningful insights and interesting discussion with others.

Wow, quite insightful, I think that makes more sense to me now. I'm still curious what Mr. Mayer's intent was from his point of view. Of course there's only one way to find out :wink: I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is close to spot on.

[sallysimpson]

I agree so much with what you've said. It says a lot of what I tried to express but it felt so nebulous to me. You've done a great job of remembering details that I forgot and then putting it into words. THANKS!

thanks back! We should discuss at some random pub in London since I'll be there for work during the last two weeks of October. And yes, I'm going to both London concerts. How could I not?

[J'net]

thanks back! We should discuss at some random pub in London since I'll be there for work during the last two weeks of October. And yes, I'm going to both London concerts. How could I not?

I'm delighted to hear this!!!! We MUST meet up! I'll send you my cell phone number as soon as I know it (my work is supplying me with an international blackberry while I'm over there).

I look forward to meeting you and having a good, long chat!