'American Psycho' musical is reportedly coming to off-Broadway
The musical version of Bret Easton Ellis鈥檚 novel 鈥�American Psycho鈥� is heading to an off-Broadway theater.
Ellis鈥檚 novel was first published in 1991 and was later adapted into a 2000 film starring 鈥�American Hustle鈥� actor 海角大神 Bale. The musical version of the novel debuted in London this past December, starring 鈥�Doctor Who鈥� actor Matt Smith. Music for the show is by 鈥�Spring Awakening鈥� composer Duncan Sheik.
Now, according to , 鈥淎merican鈥� is heading to New York鈥檚 Second Stage Theatre, with previews starting in February and the show officially opening in March. The theater has launched such shows as the musicals 鈥淣ext to Normal鈥� and 鈥淭he 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee鈥� to Broadway and featured a 2013 revival of the musical 鈥淭he Last Five Years.鈥�
The Second Stage production of 鈥淎merican Psycho鈥� will be its US. premiere. The London production received mixed reviews, with writer Michael Billington giving the show four stars out of five. 鈥淸The show] works superbly thanks to Rupert Goold's stylish production, Duncan Sheik's music and lyrics and Matt Smith鈥檚 beautifully defined performance as the deluded hero,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淐redit also belongs to the book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa which captures the satire at the heart of the dark, Dostoyevskian story鈥�. Maybe the sleek staging undercuts some of the blackness of the original book. But the compensation lies in the heightening of the satire.鈥�
However, writer David Benedict was less impressed, writing that 鈥渉elmer Rupert Goold and his design team certainly capture the high-veneer 鈥�80s style that Bateman so worships. But beneath the highly polished surface there鈥檚 little drama or, crucially, danger鈥�. The show鈥檚 oddest decision is its near-total refusal to depict the gore that defines the work 鈥� despite Matt Smith鈥檚 game effort 鈥� any fierceness he arouses is neutered by the score鈥檚 flippancy.鈥�
