AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews- Page 13
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews
Chorus Member Joined: 2/24/16
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#300
Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:52pm
Hey guys, how do they portray the Bethany death scene? I just got past (barely) that scene in the book and man, did I want to vomit afterward.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#302
Posted: 3/31/16 at 4:03pm
Bethany's death is not shown. There is a very brief death featuring a nail gun, but "Bethany" is never named in the musical.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#303
Posted: 3/31/16 at 4:42pm
"That's not even a remotely valid comparison. You cannot compare an entire career worth of pop art as a signature style to the use of two pre-existing songs in one Broadway musical."
I can absolutely make that comparison and I did. I did because it was not a comparison based on the volume of work but the choice of whether it is "lazy" to appropriate something pre-existing instead of creating it from scratch. Whether Warhol or Sheik do it once or 700 times is irrelevant to the point I was making. Choosing to use a pre-existing song instead of writing one is only lazy if it is done because they don't want or are uninspired to create something wholey original for that moment. You don't know that to be the case (unless you live with Sheik I guess). This show was always going to be a hybrid of jukebox and original music. So therefor the use of a pre-existing song is not lazy. Maybe it's ill-conceived? Maybe it sucks? That is up for interpretation and again, not the point I was making. I am not putting any value on the work only saying that the act of using the song is not out of "laziness" since it was always part of the creative vision.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#304
Posted: 3/31/16 at 5:37pm
And have you seen the show? Because to me, whether it's part of the creative vision or not, it's a lazy use of the songs the way he has them. You can use pre-existing songs in a way that isn't lazy. This ain't it.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#305
Posted: 3/31/16 at 5:39pm
What exactly do you find lazy about the way they were used? How would you have wanted them to be used?
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#306
Posted: 3/31/16 at 5:51pm
"Hip To Be Square" and "Don't You Want Me Baby" are both used in the context of scenes to show Patrick's reaction/response TO the music. We've talked about how the music of the 80s and its importance to Patrick are a super important part of the story (which I agree with), and those songs allow the audience to see that without taking them out of the story. It feels organic. The other songs are used as character development/introduction of character in the case of Jean and ensemble commentary later. They really have nothing to do with Patrick, and the arrangements are so different than the original songs that it's jarring. It took me out of what was happening on stage for a good 5 minutes, and that's not good. That certainly doesn't help the show. It makes it seem less cohesive.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#307
Posted: 3/31/16 at 6:02pm
I don't feel very strongly against the use of the extant songs, more surprised, but I did find it a bit distracting. (Except "Hip to be Square," which was both expected and diagetic in the scene.) Much of Sheik's score is successful in creating a nightmare stylized pastiche of 80s styles, so I did not feel he needed any real period songs to augment the sense of time. Dramatically, they fit in terms of vibe (which is more how Sheik writes anyway, rather than true storytelling), but they are hardly literally specific to the situations. This is often my beef with jukebox shows. Finally, yes, they DID take me out of the moment. And judging by the murmurs that met "In the Air Tonight" and "Don't You Want Me" (over and diminishing the action) a few nights ago, I wasn't alone.
At intermission, a woman asked "So is all the music 80s? I only know some of the songs."
Her friend answered, "Yes, but I think they changed the lyrics to some."
So the confusion may be greater for casual viewers. But you can also take that as a testament to Sheik successfully conjuring the period in his own numbers.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#308
Posted: 3/31/16 at 8:39pm
I thinkhe did a great job with most of the score and making sound very 80's. I also thought the arrangement for IN THE AIR TONIGHT was gorgeous.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#309
Posted: 3/31/16 at 9:22pm
A few shows in now, anyone know the current running time? Was debating a late night "Sleep No More" tomorrow night after Psycho, but probably not gonna happen if it's still nearing 3 hours.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#310
Posted: 3/31/16 at 9:38pm
I wanna say 2 hours and twenty to 2 1/2 hours.
Chorus Member Joined: 2/29/16
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#312
Posted: 4/1/16 at 9:57am
For those who have seen the show, or have been to Schoenfeld theater before, how is the seating? For center orchestra, would row B/C be too close? Would row G be better? Or would row K (at $80 cheaper) be just as good? Any input is appreciated, thanks!
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#313
Posted: 4/1/16 at 10:02am
It's an intimate house and there are large stage pictures, I'd go with the cheaper seat.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#314
Posted: 4/1/16 at 10:21am
It is an intimate house. We sat upstairs far left row E. All we missed is what ever was on the wall stage right but I don't hink we missed anything else.
Chorus Member Joined: 2/29/16
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#316
Posted: 4/1/16 at 2:04pm
Are Orchestra A-B being held off Telecharge for some reason? I want to go back to the show but up front, but pretty much any date I pick the first available row is C.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#317
Posted: 4/1/16 at 2:12pm
Maybe they are being saved by the box office for some reason? I had tickets off to the side in row C for the first preview (bought with a discount code for $79 at the box office) and the day before the first preview they upgraded my seats to front row center orchestra on the aisle because my original seats were partial view.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#318
Posted: 4/1/16 at 3:16pm
Thanks for that, maybe I'll walk over to the box office! Maybe with the blood they want to book them in person to warn them?
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#319
Posted: 4/1/16 at 3:44pm
I wouldn't think the blood has anything to do with it. None seemed to splatter on the first row and there is very little splattering blood.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#320
Posted: 4/1/16 at 4:21pm
It is hitting people on the front row as a few people have complained
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#321
Posted: 4/1/16 at 4:21pm
It is hitting people on the front row as a few people have complained
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#322
Posted: 4/1/16 at 4:26pm
I got exactly one drop of blood on my arm.
Updated On: 4/1/16 at 04:26 PMAMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#323
Posted: 4/1/16 at 5:25pm
Never seen the film/read the book. Have tickets for tonight. How scary is this for a child?
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/13
AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews#324
Posted: 4/1/16 at 5:43pm
When bringing kids, I'd be more worried about the sex than the violence. There's sex, prostitution, cheating, an orgy, a thing with a stuffed bear, videos of many fun sex positions including oral, anal...I mean...You'll have a ton of fun post-theater discussions! :)
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