American Psycho Preview Video- Page 4

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 4:15pm

We got it when the novel came out.  Ellis's criticisms of the film seem to hold for the very notion of the musical too: it's a story to be read.  Once you literalize it, it loses its purpose.  

 

So now you have this weird hybrid in which it seems to be asking us to ignore all the cultural touchstones that have already gone over these well-trod ideas.  How do you literalize the consumerism and objectification without recalling all the critiques/celebrations of consumerism that have come since?  For instance, LOSE the reference to Manolo's!  They've ALREADY been fetishized and it's time to not be pushing the "Oh, I know that from Sex & The City" button.

 

Also, do the business card magic trick ONCE.  Don't make it the repeated focal point of  a number.

 

It seems like they stretched out the already-familiar, that could be dispatched in about five minutes of exposition, into a whole evening.  Which is not to say that people haven't had great success reselling the already-sold in the past.

Updated On: 2/20/16 at 04:15 PM

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 7:14pm

You got all that from those clips? Wow

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 10:39pm

You can tell they REALLY like the women talking about their shoes!

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 10:41pm

So the British audiences that enjoyed it were...stupid, or...?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/20/16 at 10:42pm

They might have benefitted from not being here.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 6:21am

Charley Kringas Inc said: "So the British audiences that enjoyed it were...stupid, or...?"

Not all of us enjoyed it.  I t sold out because it was a limited run with Matt Smith hot off Dr Who.  He could have appeared in Pericles and it would have sold out!

Updated On: 2/21/16 at 06:21 AM

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 4:59pm

It just got worse:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=1252849

Totally miscast. Wait he married Kaya Scodelario? WTF?

[ethan231h]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 5:03pm

I don't get what any of you guys are saying. I love these clips!! But I do agree "Cards" is a little weird...

[freewilma]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 5:07pm

Do you think the release of these longer, full-song videos are a reaction to the pretty terrible feedback on this thread?  Seems like they may be rethinking their initial strategy.  

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 5:19pm

He looks old for 33. We're supposed to buy him as 26? Doesn't he need some kind of boyish charm to pull this off? It just comes across as creepy. I didn't see the movie so maybe he was cast because he resembles Christian Bale?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 5:38pm

"I WANT IT ALLLLLLLL"

 

Honestly.  

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 6:14pm

"Or maybe you just have less discerning tastes."

 

"I promise that the satire of the story is understood in America, where it comes from. I don't think that satire is an excuse for what appears to be really poor craftsmanship in the writing, which is what has people concerned about the musical here."

 

THIS. I hate the argument that 'it's intentionally bad' as though anyone who doesn't like the thing you like just isn't clever enough to get it. Even if it is brilliant satire, you still have to provide the audience with an entertaining experience. Otherwise, you still have to sit through an evening of mediocre, tedious music. I'd rather see a show try and fail than lazily fail and tell me that's what they intended. But then I haven't really loved any music I've heard from Duncan Sheik.

 

That said, I realize I'm reacting to comments and not to the show itself, which I'm still willing to give a chance.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 6:17pm

And many of the people posting will as well. 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 6:27pm

I can't comment on how it will play in New York, and I can't comment visually either, but the numbers did work in context. They're not purposefully bad, they're heightened and surreal, and it did a great job of underlining the feeling that these people are desperately washing themselves of anything organic or real. How do you function as a person when everyone is trying to be the same person? I hope the show as it plays has the same effect as it did when I heard it, because it was terrific. It's a bummer these clips are so clumsy.

[jbird5]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 6:57pm

Jennifer's number is lovely though.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 7:27pm

The buzz out of London was super strong on this - and I am looking forward to it.  It played at the Almedia Theatre where the audience is quite discerning so I'd feel like word of mouth is quite strong

 

Benji Walker is a total babe - I hope there is a number where he checks himself out in the mirror having sex

[ajh]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 8:14pm

jbird5 said: "It just got worse:

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=1252849

 

Totally miscast. Wait he married Kaya Scodelario? WTF?

I feel so out of step re this. I think this number is thrilling, and can't get the music out of my head. Plus I think he is super sexy. 

"

 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 8:57pm

Aw, did they replace the original opening number?

Updated On: 2/21/16 at 08:57 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 10:29pm

That's the opening dialogue so I assume that's the new opening number. I like it better than "Clean" actually. It's a shame it won't be on the recording. Hopefully we do get a Broadway cast album for the new material.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 10:32pm

Clinique was organic.  Wasn't it?

[pupscotch]

Posted: 2/21/16 at 11:52pm

I'm not sure what I feel about the other two numbers, I'm kind of on the fence, but Jennifer's solo is excellent, and she sounds great singing it.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 1:23am

I feel like Donald Trump wrote these lyrics. Not in a positive sense, like that they reflect his superficial super-80s big glass brand in an appropriate way for the material, but in the sense that the lyricist might only know a few dozen words. 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 1:41am

Jennifer Damiano: the saving grace of nearly all her stage credits.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 4:36pm

ajh said: "In what universe could Benjamin Walker be described as "fugly"?!!! I think he has the perfect combination of swagger, arrogance, playfulness and underlying menace for Bateman. And he is damn sexy.

Really? I'll take your word for it. But whatever he has doesn't translate in these videos.

 

[tazber]

Posted: 2/22/16 at 4:47pm

The marketing/press team really need to re-think releasing these rehearsal videos.