I was there last night and have mixed thoughts about the show. On the one hand American Psycho has a lot going for it. Benjamin Walker, sounding eerily like Christian Bale at times, is fantastic, as are his fellow cast mates and a helluva hard working ensemble. There are two turntables on each side of the stage, with only half of each circle visible before turning into the curtained wings. The ensemble spins out on them in sharp poses and kinetic dance movements that I enjoyed a lot. The music is pretty great too, expertly catching the era and very appropriate for this piece.
I think the two biggest problems with American Psycho lie in the material itself. Patrick, although a wonderful character, is a static one; by his own admission he only has two emotions: greed and disgust. It's hard to build a musical around a man who has no feelings. The other problem is also something the movie struggled with in that there are no scares or sickening gore. The book caused a huge controversy when it was published, and indeed Ellis' own publisher refused to print the book because of the content. You would never know that from what's on stage at the Schoenfeld or from watching Harron's film. The creators of the musical have done a great job adapting the satire of the 80s and all the dark humor from the novel, but where they have failed is capturing that truly disgusting, stomach-turning violence that fills about 1/3 of the novel and and eventually 100% of Patrick Bateman's mind. American Psycho contains some of the truest horror you can imagine and the stage show never really goes there. When Patrick does muse about wondering how Evelyn will taste on a grill it's played for a laugh and not a scare.
As it stands the show plays more like Rocky Horror, in that it is a love letter to the cult fans of the novel and film that allows them to applaud at all the memorable lines and images. The first act is infinitely stronger than the second, although my favorite song was The Killing Spree near the top of act two. After his return from The Hamptons I really wanted the violence to start and let Walker go for broke with some of the nasty things he did. They wouldn't even have to show us anything too graphic, but maybe as he attacked each ensemble member he could describe some of the horrible things he did. If the audience can make it through these sequences without throwing up then there's a problem.
Yorke is excellent as Evelyn and Damiano does a good job with Jean too. The crime most unforgivable is how wasted Alice Ripley is in this show. I know the role was written long before they knew a star of magnitude would be performing it, but now that they have her they MUST give her something more to do.
The creators also seem to skip over Patrick's descent into madness that prompts his phone call to the detective (changed from his lawyer in the movie). I think the second act could really use the shot in the arm that this sequence could have provided.
The design elements are all first-rate. The lighting, costumes, wigs, make-up, set, projections are all winners. It's visually very interesting too watch.
I feel like there's a lot of work to be done, which sort of surprised me given the London run and all the time in between. At least the cast is already there and the score is quite winning. It will be interesting to go back in late previews and see what they've accomplished.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
