American Psycho Broadway vs London cast album question

[pickles2]

Posted: 6/5/16 at 11:17pm

I've been listening to the London cast recording of American Psycho after seeing the brilliant Broadway production twice this weekend, and something struck me. Some lines that I remember as  delivered with a lot of force or emotion in the show sound very flat to me on the album, especially the dialogue. I never had the opportunity to see the London production, but I can't imagine this is how the actors sounded. I remember having a similar reaction too when I listened to the Spring Awakening OBCR. I've only seen the Deaf West revival of that, too, which is I guess why I am asking if anyone who might have seen the originals of these shows has similar thoughts. Is it a Duncan Sheik thing? Has it been brought up in an interview anywhere and explained?

I didn't see a general American Psycho thread so I hope it's appropriate to post here as opposed to the London board, since I can only compare it to the Broadway production.

[worthing5]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 8:26am

Interestingly enough, as a fan of the london production, i was very disapointed when i heard a bootleg of the broadway show - so much of it seemed to be overdone and overacted to the point i found it ruined some of the songs. Particularly Mr Walker, who seemed to be playing it like George Hearn in that old video of Sweeney Todd. For example the line in Killing Spree "I could eat your face" is growled and overplayed by Walker to the point it becomes campy and funny, whereas Matts reading had a real creepiness to how subtle and calm it was and in general i much prefer Matts light pop voice to Bens big broadway sound. It suits the style of the music much more. 

What you hear on the London album is very close to how it was performed. It was a smaller house though.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 9:06am

I really enjoy the London Cast recording but love the Broadway cast too. Matt was more droll and I liked his 80s pop voice (think Soft Cell). I think the London Cast is missing some of the humor. There are absolutely two different approaches, both work. Seems in London there was a  more of a cool detached take on characters and on Broadway there was a more elevated, grotesque, caricature comedic approach. I appreciate both. 

I like Bens take. He's clearly unraveling and gets more exasperated over time. 

[worthing5]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 9:10am

I think you are correct. And Matt is a straight actor, he hadnt done a musical before, as far as i know. I would like to have seen the broadway cast onstage but hopefully there will be some sort of video recording sometime.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:56pm

Personally, I think a lot of the dialogue on the London cast album sounds a little robotic, but I assumed it was intentional since the Spring Awakening cast did the same thing on their cast album and definitely didn't perform it that way on staged. I assumed it was a Duncan Sheik thing.

[Emma MK]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 2:01pm

I downloaded an audio recording of the London production a long time ago from Tumblr and cut the songs so i could listen to them. Heres a link to Killing Spree so you can hear the difference -

https://youtu.be/f3eIpE8p1f0
Please ignore the title of the song, i didnt know the titles when i uploaded it lol
I saw the show 4 or 5 times in London and loved it. I had planned a trip to see the broadway version to see the differences, but my trip is booked for the 14th June and im so upset that i wont get to see it now  

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 02:01 PM

[groucho797]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 2:04pm

worthing5 said: "Particularly Mr Walker, who seemed to be playing it like George Hearn in that old video of Sweeney Todd. "

I see that as an excellent point. I hadn't seen Len Cariou in the original production (for a bunch of stupid reasons) and only became aware of the show when PBS aired it on Great Performances. I took Hearn's performance as the first impression and was startled by Len's laid-back approach. On the other hand, I agree in reverse - having heard Matt Smith's take first, then seeing Ben Walker, I liked Ben more. You say tomato.....

 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 5:37pm

lol Murder Dance Thingy

[pickles2]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:37pm

Emma MK said: "I downloaded an audio recording of the London production a long time ago from Tumblr and cut the songs so i could listen to them. Heres a link to Killing Spree so you can hear the difference -

https://youtu.be/f3eIpE8p1f0
Please ignore the title of the song, i didnt know the titles when i uploaded it lol
I saw the show 4 or 5 times in London and loved it. I had planned a trip to see the broadway version to see the differences, but my trip is booked for the 14th June and im so upset that i wont get to see it now  

 

"

Thank you for this! Wish could have seen it in a smaller house. Maybe in an off Broadway or London revival someday....