Bird. Green Day’s American Idiot hits Broadway ee a ee ee Crystal Hut By Jay Schreiber, Arts Editor t is the greatest thing you’ve ever eaten? Was it that steak from the Keg, or your Uncle Larry’s famous barbecue burgers? I can say with no hesitation that perhaps the greatest thing to pass through my lips are the world-famous waffles that one can find in the Crystal Hut on Blackcomb Mountain. So what is so great about these waffles, you may ask, that has me going gaga about their consumption? Well let me sum up for you, oh reader of The Other Press, the experience to be had when traveling the trails covered in snow. No ordinary waffle is covered in the freshest blueberries, the reddest strawberries and the most delectable chips of chocolate, all to be drowned in maple syrup so thick it could choke a donkey. Cover that with four shots of whipped cream and there you have it, bliss and heaven ona plate made especially for you and served with an Australian accent. I’m not kidding, folks, this is the stuff dreams are made of, the kind of meal you feel guilty after eating. This platter of amazing grace is so good, and amazingly beautiful that it’s almost a shame to devour it. Let me now share with you the instructions on how to reach this small hut in the woods that makes the greatest breakfast known to man. From Whistler Village, take the Excalibur gondola and get off at the last station. From there, you will need to get on the Excelerator chair (for those of you familiar with the mountain; this should be second nature by now). You then have to ride down towards the Crystal Lodge (follow the crowds) but instead of catching one of the two chair lifts in the area, continue on down the run named “Zig Zag.” From this run, there will be a pathway to the right and a sign saying “Crystal Chair;” take that one. Once atop the Crystal chair, the Hut is just off to the side and the aroma of waffles will be wafting through the air, to put in simpler terms, you can’t miss it! The hut is also accessible from the Glacier chair if you take the run titled “Ridge Runner’, but this is less direct and easier to get sidetracked. The Hut itself is cozy, warmed by a wood buming stove and has seating for about 40 or so. It’s almost never busy and the atmosphere makes you feel like you’re lost in a cabin somewhere in the forest. The view from Crystal Hut is fantastic, being located on the side of a cliff and its location is definitely what you would call ‘off the beaten path’. Next time you’re boarding around Blackcomb, forgo the large mini-malls located near the major chair lifts. Make the effort and go for the best damned food available at 6,000 feet. We give this place: 4/4 Forks eff Angela Espinoza ime brings with it a great deal of change. As winter gradually comes to an end, snow (not that we saw any) begins to melt with the arrival of spring. Flowers begin to bloom, birds flock back from the South, critters awaken from their slumber. Yet despite all the pleasantries that come with spring, we must also face the annoyances; the pelting rain, the onslaught of insects, allergies and, as of this year, the Broadway run of American Idiot: The Musical. After several years of speculation as to how Green Day planned to whore out the success of their Grammy award- winning album, the general assumption was that a film adaptation was to be made. Details such as who was involved and how they were going about it were never revealed, with the band merely giving general statements such as, “It’s definitely going to happen.” Eventually, the band stated the project was on hold so they could focus on their music. It’s clear though that the idea never left their mind, as their latest album, 2/st Century Breakdown, contains obvious similarities to American Idiot. By September 2009, Green Day premiered American Idiot: The Musical at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California. The musical consists of the original album in its entirety, as well as several B-side tracks and additional songs from 2/ st Century Breakdown, Nimrod and Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2. The entire show is performed in one act, and there appears to be no actual dialogue as the performance is sung-through. The show ran until November 15, after two previous extensions due to its rising popularity. After much consideration, it was decided that American Idiot: The Musical was Broadway worthy, and will be running preview shows at New York’s St. James Theatre starting March 24, with opening night slated for April 20. The play follows three individuals: Johnny, Tunny and Will, as they attempt to find meaning in their otherwise empty suburban lives. Johnny and Tunny run away to some generic city while Will stays behind with his pregnant girlfriend. As time passes, the three men entangle themselves in drugs, sex, war and feelings of alienation. As can be expected with this trashy teen drama, everything sorts itself out in the end. While the lack of character depth and the preschool plot have come under scrutiny, it’s been noted that the visual techniques have been quite impressive. The performances themselves have also been met with much praise, as can be expected with professionals and Tony- award winners amongst the cast and crew, including Michael Mayer, who won several 2007 Tonys for his musical adaptation of the controversial German play, Spring Awakening. Despite my negativity towards the show, I’m quite fond of Green Day—the Green Day that brought us albums like Dookie and Warning. It’s been this new approach the band’s been taking since American Idiot that I can’t help but scrutinize. After a 20 year run, change can only be expected from the average band—but using the pretentious whining of fictional, faceless characters to file their album under rock opera, or as Billie Joe Armstrong states, “rock theatre,” is a silly way to go about it. Nevertheless, the hype surrounding the show entails it should be a positive experience, and if given the opportunity, one should check it out.