AMERICAN PSYCHO Previews- Page 15

[Steve C.]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 11:24am

I thought the Colbert performance was really quite good and really enticing. It should instill wider interest in the show.

First, the Duncan Sheik music is so different from what he usually writes; his previous style of writing is so different. Secondly, the producers spared no expense in presenting that performance from the show. Transporting that set from the show was costly but should really help to sell "Psycho". Lastly, it certainly was sexy to see Benjamin Walker shirtless and looking so sexy! (and the performance was great).

I was semi interested in seeing the show but now I think it I will because it will be interesting to see something so adult in theme. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 11:56am

Just watched the Colbert performance and thought Walker was perfect. I may be wrong but I'm thinking that his lack of energy in the choreography, meaning his blasé moves, was on purpose, fitting for the character.

I

If that isn't the case, hmmm 

[UrNotAMachine]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 12:02pm

I made the mistake of reading the youtube comments. They're so infuriating. 

[BeNice]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 12:23pm

I saw this last night and it is not for me. I agree with a previous poster that it is hard to base a musical around a main character who is apathetic. Especially when the piece is a character driven, not plot driven. They had to lean on the stylization then, which, unfortunately, I found to be unoriginal, loud, and tasteless. This would have been more successful as a play.

Ben Walker is good, but I can't recommend this show to my friends. 

[jbird5]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 12:27pm

Uh oh. Uh oh. Uh oh.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 12:34pm

Jane2 said: "Just watched the Colbert performance and thought Walker was perfect. I may be wrong but I'm thinking that his lack of energy in the choreography, meaning his blasé moves, was on purpose, fitting for the character.

I

If that isn't the case, hmmm 

 

It is on purpose. However it seemed even more toned down on Colbert. I am wondering if it was just because of the small space they had to perform. For instance the moonwalk he did was done differently in the show and he had more space to do it. It lasted a bit longer.

 

"

 

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 12:40pm

Even with the screens and costumes, I think the Colbert performance highlights how much this show depends on its production elements. It feels a lot sillier outside the Schoenfeld, and on video. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 12:55pm

thank you Uncageg. This decision is interesting. I wonder if those audience members who are able to distinguish his blasé-ness from the rest of the ensemble would "get it." During the rest of the show, does Walker exhibit that same attitude, or does he show more energy?

[jbird5]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 1:13pm

I thought he was more animated during the 2nd act where he starts to come unhinged. Mind you, he spends half the show in his briefs, even when other characters are fully clothed. I suppose there's an audience for that kind of thing.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 1:44pm

Patrick wasn't th most animated of people in day to day life though, he was perfectly ordinary, Bale played it th same way. It's when he's coming undone that he comes alive.....and hates it. He's bored of everything around him, it would seem silly if he was really animated, that's just not him.

 

Its come up a few times and I find it an interesting talking point. People saying it's hard to do a musical when the lead character is so unsympathetic, why is that? We can happily watch it on film or tv so why not the stage? In AP case the emotion is there it's just not an emotion that will have you uplifted and moved, it's disgust, boredom and self obsession, is it not refreshing to have a musical that allows something different?

 

As for the cramming it with style to fall back on I simply can't agree. The style is what the book and film are about, expense, looking great, the best clothes, the best technology etc, that is a character in the show itself, it's about excess.

 

Do people think the age of the audience will play in to response? This show seems like it's aimed at people in their late teens to 40s, I can't help thinking older audiences and theatre purists will hate this show, which I get, but what does that do for long term prospects of the show?

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 2:00pm

thanks songandance. I saw the movie so many times that I memorized it. I know about Patrick.

As for the musical, I guess it has to be a perceptive audience to see the difference between his early lack of energy, then the burst of energy when he starts to crack  up, and get why it's happening.

 

Clearly I have to see this, and soon! Then I'll be able to answer my own questions.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 2:32pm

SPOILER ALERT

 

 

This is for those who read the book. Did Patrick have any interests in life other than being at the top of the trend followers list? Also, what happened in his life that caused his hatred of women?

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 3:41pm

songanddanceman2 said: "Do people think the age of the audience will play in to response? This show seems like it's aimed at people in their late teens to 40s, I can't help thinking older audiences and theatre purists will hate this show, which I get, but what does that do for long term prospects of the show?

 

Late teens is too young to get the references to the 80's but they seemed to love the music. The older lady aside of me seemed put off by the whole thing. The young 20 somethings in from of me hated it. I loved it. I was a kid of the 80s also.

"

 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 3:53pm

It's for sure gonna be a show that divides in a huge way, that to me is great, bored of safe uplifting musicals, family musicals etc.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 4:48pm

Jane2 said: "SPOILER ALERT

 

 

This is for those who read the book. Did Patrick have any interests in life other than being at the top of the trend followers list? Also, what happened in his life that caused his hatred of women?

 

"

His distaste for his mother, I believe is one of the reasons. Absent father. The usual suspects. But he's a materialistic psychopath, so women are viewed as objects; toys that Patrick can play with and literally tear apart. We don't delve too much into his history because it's through his lense and we believe him when he says he isn't there. He has a brief moment of humanization when he imagines he could become "normal" for a woman like Jean, but the thought doesn't last long and is regarded as an abnormality to him. Patrick Bateman doesn't need to be explained away and, actually, I'd argue that it would be a disservice to the story if he was.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 5:05pm

I agree, he doesn't need an elebarate back story etc, he's simply s psychopath and sociopath 

[Kad]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 5:06pm

It was my takeaway that Bateman was simply the logical end result of the culture in which he lived: materialism and greed in the form of a man. 

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 5:16pm

Yeah Kad, that's what you get from the book and film as well.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 5:26pm

I don't think his hate is exclusive to women, either. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 6:31pm

Thanks for the responses. See, I think it IS important to know his backstory. Maybe it's just me, but when faced with a materialistic man (which is not uncommon in our society) who also is a murdering psychopath, which IS uncommon), I wonder why.

But it is my nature to want to know the reason for simply everything! Could be a virgo thing.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 6:36pm

That's fair, but I think all the "why" with this character is cultural--and that's the point of him. Was actually surprised by the presence of Mom and Brother. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 6:42pm

Thanks Scary. I think I'm taking this too seriously. It's just that I really like it, and when I really like something, I delve deeply into it!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 6:47pm

Not at all! I think one success of the show live (which is more stylized than the film) is how Patrick's behavior works as a kind of allegorical extension of the world he lives in. I am was not a huge fan, but I think it did get this. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 6:48pm

I just came up with the moral of the story. When you are totally invested in unimportant materialistic things and are the most shallow human on Earth, you really are unfulfilled as a person, and angry. You have no interest in other people or other things. You are empty. You are so miserable that you have to express it by killing others. Others who do have a life.

 

Prologue by Jane. LOL

[mg2685a]

Posted: 4/2/16 at 11:18pm

I saw today's matinee and let me preface that I've never seen the movie or read the book. I watched the press videos and was so unimpressed. I got my hands on the London recording and while I initially disliked it, it has been growing on me. 

I got a rush ticket today and was absolutely blown away by the show. The sound was wonky. I'm not sure if it was meant to be as loud as it was but it definitely took away from the show at times. 

Benjamin Walker is going to get raves. He's ridiculously talented and commands the entire show. His performance is one that people will talk about for a while. The rest of the cast was quite good too but I have to note how disappointed I was with the lack of Alice Ripley. She's barely in it and doesn't exactly have a lot to play with. It's not her fault though. 

I really enjoyed the music. It's not what you'd expect from a musical but it works very well. The technical aspects of the show and their integration into the set were spectacular. 

My biggest issue with the show was the second act. The first act was very strong but it many ways I felt like the second act was a completely different show. Bateman suddenly becomes more "human" and I felt it was really out of character. I went with a friend and she's very familiar with the source material and even she admitted that it was odd. I hope they rework it slightly. 

Overall it was really enjoyable.