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Read the writing on the wall

posted by Chad Jones on Fri, Oct 2, 2009
in At the theatre

Four weeks into the run of Green Day’s American Idiot, the graffiti wall in the lobby of the Roda Theatre continues to make for fascinating reading. Fans of the band, the actors, the show, or all of the above feel compelled to scrawl their thoughts in silver and gold ink on the black paper-covered wall. After filling completely, the wall was recently re-papered, but some of the comments live on here.

The geography report: the wall had messages in German, Italian, and Spanish. Scrawlers reported coming from Venezuela, Philadelphia, and Detroit just to see the show. One joker penned: “All the way from Rockridge.”

Here are some other inky entries of interest:

“Hella f*#ing awesome.”

“I can’t really say how much the American Idiot album means to me, and you did a fantastic job making it even better. And I mean it.” – Vivi

“Thank you for being my voice.”

“I never thought I could love the American Idiot album more. Tonight I do. Wow! Just wow!” – Kelly

“Dude, it was a Saturday matinee and NO ONE FELL ASLEEP!”

“21st-century theatre! Great job, Berkeley Rep.” – The Hanscoms, Rep faithful since 1976

“Are we we are absolutely blown away!”

“Any emotion that cannot be expressed with Green Day lyrics is not worth feeling.”

“Rebecca Naomi Jones I love you.”

“Don’t move to Piedmont, Billie Joe! Oakland loves you!”

“Green day – I always thought you would make a great play. Thanks for making my dreams come true.” – Jen

“I didn’t need my hearing aid!”

“I remember why I love punk rock now.” – Zoe

“Puts new light on your own life. Truly amazing.” – Daniel

“Green Day Rocks mah socks!”

“American Idiot is the definitive show for the 2000s.”

“How amazing to be introduced and fall in love at the same time. Love at first Green Day?”

“Stunning! I have renewed faith in our future.”

“AI got me through some god-awful shit in my life, and seeing it come to life like this was amazing.”

“This show has made a Green Day fan.”

“Worship the Reptoid.”

“Wake me up when Sept. ends…and get your asses to NYC.”

“I had the time of my life.”

Check out entries from the first graffiti wall here.

Photo by Nora Merecicky