I'm actually kind of surprised that so many people seem to dislike the broadway version, because for the first time ever I really liked the broadway version of any musical quite a bit. I listened to the west end recording and then watched the slime tutorial after, and was completely in awe with the choreography and set designs. However, it also gave me a really different image of Patrick Bateman from what he actually is supposed to be. At this point I had seen neither movie nor read the book, so I thought this was an actual, faithful interpretation of him. Benjamin Walker's Bateman really seemed to me like a person caught up in a terrible, destructive world, and finding himself be completely overwhelmed. In that regard, the spouting off of world problems felt to me like the desperate attempt to make those around him finally understand. That being said, I of course was aware that he is quite literally a murderer of the worst dimensions, and my interpretation in no way took away from my horror and disgust during the later parts of the show (in fact, I felt like my previous "understanding" of his character and then the relentless affirmation that he is a monster felt like a calling out of my own interpretative qualities, or my willingness to sympathize with him to a certain extent, with 'me' being a stand-in for any viewer that found sympathy for this character.) When I actually watched the movie, I was really surprised to find an actual shell of a human being there, an actual downright evil man with no warmth, no humanity and no connection to the world. Like, I had heard that this is what he is, but the musical really gave me a different idea of the character. In any case, I am fond of the musical (or perhaps just Benjamin Walker) for giving me this different interpretation and a completely new perspective on the story. But on the other, I also feel like this sympathetic angle (especially with the reveal at the end basically 'absolving' Patrick) takes away from the original and really softens it, thereby taking away meaning from this character. It's a complex situation! And I've been thinking about it ever since watching the musical...
I honestly loved the west end version. The cast was amazing. The songs flow so well. And then the Broadway show happened. They really just tried to make it appear to “Broader” audiences I guess? The cast wasn’t that good. I liked the lighting? They committed a deadly sin by taking out Sri Lanka and Killing Time. They just changed it when they didn’t need to change anything. There was no point in making changes! It would have done so much better if they just kept it like the west end version.
I actually saw the show both during previews and on the last week of the run and sri lanka was there during the previews! It was a shock when I realized it had been taken out later on...
I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but as me playing devil's advocate, you might think that due to the whole story being from Patrick's point of view and his telling of the story, that the obsession and pure focus on Patrick is a logical choice. It's Patrick not focusing on his actual problems (for the most part), but the fact that he's showing the audience what he believes in, what he cares about, and what he sees in himself and society. Again, this might be stretching, but the production design, especially lighting and set, play in to the fact that this is all in Patrick's head, with the projections, and moments of, what I'd call interference, is Patrick having a moment, and falling deeper into his own psychological issues and delusions. That being said though, I do agree with most of your points, and I really liked what you said about everything.
Technically the existential crisis was kept in Killing Time, but was given to Patrick instead. Which doesn't seem to serve a lot of purpose other than I guess humanizing him, which doesn't really seem like the best move.
@@leahmacdonald5122 totally. I watched the show for the first time not long ago and was so confused as to why he disappeared and why his reappearance matters.
Thank you for mentioning the pitchy-ness of that performance. I was looking through the comments about how everyone loved it and it's a crime that it got taken off of Broadway. I was like... well if the main actor can't sing on key that's kind of a major problem.
Love these recent comments lol I’ll play too. The title “A Girl Before” refers to Jean’s desire to mean something to Patrick. She incorrectly interprets his playboy persona as a mask that covers up his inner sensitivity. She’s drawn to his mystery and thinks she understands him and his motivations better than everyone else. Jean believes by confessing her love for him that she only risks him using her the way she observes him doing with the other women in his life. The song is her voicing wanting to be more than a girl he once had a fling with and quickly moved on from, a Girl Before
I figured This Is Not an Exit was meant to sound pretentious and empty because that's how the character feels especially now that it seems his actions might not even be real. You could argue that it's rather redundant when the rest of the show already portrays this and that they could have done something else with the song, but I don't feel like the point of it is to excuse the character, so much as the character desperately trying to spin something meaningful out of the vacuousness out of his own existence, but coming up short.
I feel like when Bateman has more personality, audiences would connect with him more whilst knowing that he is a psychopath which could lead them feeling more terrified of the non-psychopathic people the audiences see in their daily lives.
this is an amazing insight! I agree with almost all of your points and this show is one of my favorites. very intriguing video. great editing and your voice is interesting through it all
Your critique of the lack of Sri Lanka is interesting to me. I got 100% of your feelings of Patrick’s thoughts on current events…all from the 3 lines of dialogue that ended up in the Broadway version. I think the song is fine, but not 100% necessary for conveying Patrick’s not genuine lack of care for these topics.
Incredible video - well put together, and more importantly a great example of what criticism should be - how a work of art can (or should) affect an audiences view of the world
Ur points at the end were really spot on damnn I just wanted to say btw that its frustrating when I want to comment on ur videos and continue the conversation/discourse and the comments are disabled ripp, are ppl saying transphobic/nasty things cause that rly sucks
I really liked Selling Out but Killing Time 2.0 was so weak. I listened to the soundtrack and then saw how long the actual musical is. Geez, just keep ALL the songs and cut out some dialogue. The songs hit all the important story beats anyway.
I agree with Benjamin being a bit too charismatic for the role, and the show trying to make you sympathize with him being just... plain wrong as a choice, but I really disagree about Selling Out. It instantly put me in the headspace that I needed to be in for the story, I was struggling with focus before it. Also with the laundromat not being important. "None of this actually happens" is a fine interpretation of the story, but a key aspect of American Psycho is having the possibility that it maybe did, the uncertainty of what is the truth. And yeah, the phrases "judge it how you wish" and "A girl before..." bothered me a lot too, but I thought I was being nitpicky lol. Now I don't think I'm that wrong to dislike them..
You're absolutely right on the rant about Oh, Sri Lanka. My favourite song! I was so mad when I found it was cut out. And Selling Out feels so off from the vibe of the show. The West End songs are so superior to the Broadway version. But even though I am a big fan of Matt Smith, Ben Walker's Patrick seemed a better performance. I agree that he's probably too sympathetic, but I couldn't stop thinking about the American accent Matt was putting on during his performance and songs. Love the video, people should talk more about this musical!
Neither the movie or book originally gave a definitive answer at all. To criticize the musical for that same thing is ludicrous. As someone who saw the Broadway production I did not see it as a show about a man allowed to and getting away with killing people. What a basic understanding. After such a well thought out video that was the worst take I've heard of this show.
I actually like the chorus of Killing Time 2.0 because the ensemble sounds great when they’re all singing “killing tiiiiiiime” and I love those notes but I agree that Killing Time is better than Killing Time 2.0.
I think as far as supporting cast gos they're portrayed through the twisted mirror of Patrick like everything in the story. He sees all the women the same. He doesn't care about them just sex and his money they spend. This is supported by the lyrics "what do you do for a living? No don't answer that I don't care." (It could be just a joke about small talk) It shows how little care Patrick has for others. As far as their obsession with him, it falls to his ego. In his mind anyone attracted to men MUST be madly obsessed with him, the perfect man. That's why Lewis is obsessed with him in every media. Patrick is literally the guy that says "it's fine that you're gay just don't be in love with mE" (loved this video tho!)
i will forever miss killing time 1.0. rest in peace. oh, and in the air tonight is the best jukebox song in the show. just my opinion, though i did really like all the other jukebox songs, i thought in the air tonight invoked a the strongest vibe. i was unsettled and glanced over my shoulder twice while watching the boot, plus i got goosebumps. i also don’t even care but mistletoe alert i.d kind of a bop just because i like the vocals.
Sadly, there's no way of watching the British version.. (Believe me, I tried so badly to find a recording of the British cast) You can listen to the London cast album, though
I must ask, will you be doing one on the broadway musical for Anastasia? I haven't actually seen the show but I am in love with the soundtrack (It's on repeat in my car pretty much) and would love to hear your thoughts on it!
Late as F to the Party, but I just thought of something. I was also mad that the women don't do anything or have any character development been then I thought that this might be because its from Patrick's POV and he just sees all people as one note objects and so that's how they appear to the audience as well? Just an Idea probably wrong.
I listened to this because I'm a whovian (and kinda addicted to Matt Smith's voice) and I've been listening to the London cast album for over a month on repeat now and wow, I still can't stop
I don't really like how sri lanka sounds but I still think they should have had some sort of gosh darn song instead of like three spoken lines about it
I rarely can say this, but I agree with everything in this review. Every single word should be underlined, and yes, I also like the show. However, I think the book is a masterpiece, and the film is garbage (not Christian Bale's fault).
@@lucelenthawk3543 I might have to watch it again one of these days; it has been many years. Coming from the book, I found it difficult judging the film on its own merits. The film too often soft-pedals the books very edgy narrative and extreme violence. It completely loses many of the references to material culture (which the musical restores). But I think the cardinal sin is that the movie superimposes a kind of conventional narrative that the book carefully avoids, e.g., Bateman's father as CEO of the company he works for, the wholecloth invention of Willem Dafoe's character, the nicely wrapped-up ending. The books is told in fragments that are out of order, and follows no conventional plot structure. I think what puzzled me at the time was, given all those changes, that the film needed to work differently than the book, and it never worked for me.
@@mapanzer actually the film follows along okay with the book. The detective for example is a character, he was meant to look more like Patrick’s peer but he wasn’t totally invented. They toned down the violence of course but the point was still made and he still makes frequent Terence’s to pop culture. I’d definitely give it another chance!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm actually kind of surprised that so many people seem to dislike the broadway version, because for the first time ever I really liked the broadway version of any musical quite a bit. I listened to the west end recording and then watched the slime tutorial after, and was completely in awe with the choreography and set designs.
However, it also gave me a really different image of Patrick Bateman from what he actually is supposed to be. At this point I had seen neither movie nor read the book, so I thought this was an actual, faithful interpretation of him. Benjamin Walker's Bateman really seemed to me like a person caught up in a terrible, destructive world, and finding himself be completely overwhelmed. In that regard, the spouting off of world problems felt to me like the desperate attempt to make those around him finally understand. That being said, I of course was aware that he is quite literally a murderer of the worst dimensions, and my interpretation in no way took away from my horror and disgust during the later parts of the show (in fact, I felt like my previous "understanding" of his character and then the relentless affirmation that he is a monster felt like a calling out of my own interpretative qualities, or my willingness to sympathize with him to a certain extent, with 'me' being a stand-in for any viewer that found sympathy for this character.) When I actually watched the movie, I was really surprised to find an actual shell of a human being there, an actual downright evil man with no warmth, no humanity and no connection to the world. Like, I had heard that this is what he is, but the musical really gave me a different idea of the character.
In any case, I am fond of the musical (or perhaps just Benjamin Walker) for giving me this different interpretation and a completely new perspective on the story. But on the other, I also feel like this sympathetic angle (especially with the reveal at the end basically 'absolving' Patrick) takes away from the original and really softens it, thereby taking away meaning from this character. It's a complex situation! And I've been thinking about it ever since watching the musical...
I honestly loved the west end version. The cast was amazing. The songs flow so well. And then the Broadway show happened. They really just tried to make it appear to “Broader” audiences I guess? The cast wasn’t that good. I liked the lighting? They committed a deadly sin by taking out Sri Lanka and Killing Time. They just changed it when they didn’t need to change anything. There was no point in making changes! It would have done so much better if they just kept it like the west end version.
They also removed the fucking legendary line "I'll put some X in the eggnog" which is a travesty, if you ask me.
I actually saw the show both during previews and on the last week of the run and sri lanka was there during the previews! It was a shock when I realized it had been taken out later on...
the jukebox songs were my favorite parts tbh. they add such ambiance and they work well with the theme of story
I agree with a lot of what you're saying, but as me playing devil's advocate, you might think that due to the whole story being from Patrick's point of view and his telling of the story, that the obsession and pure focus on Patrick is a logical choice. It's Patrick not focusing on his actual problems (for the most part), but the fact that he's showing the audience what he believes in, what he cares about, and what he sees in himself and society. Again, this might be stretching, but the production design, especially lighting and set, play in to the fact that this is all in Patrick's head, with the projections, and moments of, what I'd call interference, is Patrick having a moment, and falling deeper into his own psychological issues and delusions.
That being said though, I do agree with most of your points, and I really liked what you said about everything.
Exactly - we're supposed to see them as flat, boring and superficial as Patrick sees them.
your channel makes me so happy, like everytime you post my brain lowkey goes "look broadway mom is back"
Technically the existential crisis was kept in Killing Time, but was given to Patrick instead. Which doesn't seem to serve a lot of purpose other than I guess humanizing him, which doesn't really seem like the best move.
why does Broadway have to humanize literally e v e r y o n e
It also makes Price disappearing make no sense
@@leahmacdonald5122 totally. I watched the show for the first time not long ago and was so confused as to why he disappeared and why his reappearance matters.
@@PianoDisneygal10 I had the exact same confusion
Thank you for mentioning the pitchy-ness of that performance. I was looking through the comments about how everyone loved it and it's a crime that it got taken off of Broadway. I was like... well if the main actor can't sing on key that's kind of a major problem.
Oh snap that last bit blew me away. I loooove your channel, I love your voice, I just can’t stop watching!
Love these recent comments lol I’ll play too. The title “A Girl Before” refers to Jean’s desire to mean something to Patrick. She incorrectly interprets his playboy persona as a mask that covers up his inner sensitivity. She’s drawn to his mystery and thinks she understands him and his motivations better than everyone else. Jean believes by confessing her love for him that she only risks him using her the way she observes him doing with the other women in his life. The song is her voicing wanting to be more than a girl he once had a fling with and quickly moved on from, a Girl Before
Was just about to say this
I figured This Is Not an Exit was meant to sound pretentious and empty because that's how the character feels especially now that it seems his actions might not even be real. You could argue that it's rather redundant when the rest of the show already portrays this and that they could have done something else with the song, but I don't feel like the point of it is to excuse the character, so much as the character desperately trying to spin something meaningful out of the vacuousness out of his own existence, but coming up short.
I feel like when Bateman has more personality, audiences would connect with him more whilst knowing that he is a psychopath which could lead them feeling more terrified of the non-psychopathic people the audiences see in their daily lives.
this is an amazing insight! I agree with almost all of your points and this show is one of my favorites. very intriguing video. great editing and your voice is interesting through it all
Your critique of the lack of Sri Lanka is interesting to me. I got 100% of your feelings of Patrick’s thoughts on current events…all from the 3 lines of dialogue that ended up in the Broadway version. I think the song is fine, but not 100% necessary for conveying Patrick’s not genuine lack of care for these topics.
Incredible video - well put together, and more importantly a great example of what criticism should be - how a work of art can (or should) affect an audiences view of the world
Ur points at the end were really spot on damnn
I just wanted to say btw that its frustrating when I want to comment on ur videos and continue the conversation/discourse and the comments are disabled ripp, are ppl saying transphobic/nasty things cause that rly sucks
I really liked Selling Out but Killing Time 2.0 was so weak.
I listened to the soundtrack and then saw how long the actual musical is. Geez, just keep ALL the songs and cut out some dialogue. The songs hit all the important story beats anyway.
I love Selling Out - wish there was a cast recording version on Spotify rather than just Duncan Sheik!
Killing time 1.0 slaps like nothing else
ZOINKS this is such a cool in-depth review I love it!!
Do the book of mormon!
I agree with Benjamin being a bit too charismatic for the role, and the show trying to make you sympathize with him being just... plain wrong as a choice, but I really disagree about Selling Out. It instantly put me in the headspace that I needed to be in for the story, I was struggling with focus before it. Also with the laundromat not being important. "None of this actually happens" is a fine interpretation of the story, but a key aspect of American Psycho is having the possibility that it maybe did, the uncertainty of what is the truth.
And yeah, the phrases "judge it how you wish" and "A girl before..." bothered me a lot too, but I thought I was being nitpicky lol. Now I don't think I'm that wrong to dislike them..
You're absolutely right on the rant about Oh, Sri Lanka. My favourite song! I was so mad when I found it was cut out. And Selling Out feels so off from the vibe of the show. The West End songs are so superior to the Broadway version. But even though I am a big fan of Matt Smith, Ben Walker's Patrick seemed a better performance. I agree that he's probably too sympathetic, but I couldn't stop thinking about the American accent Matt was putting on during his performance and songs. Love the video, people should talk more about this musical!
A random thought that comes to me is what if Selling Out and Morning Routine we’re combined
Neither the movie or book originally gave a definitive answer at all. To criticize the musical for that same thing is ludicrous. As someone who saw the Broadway production I did not see it as a show about a man allowed to and getting away with killing people. What a basic understanding. After such a well thought out video that was the worst take I've heard of this show.
I actually like the chorus of Killing Time 2.0 because the ensemble sounds great when they’re all singing “killing tiiiiiiime” and I love those notes but I agree that Killing Time is better than Killing Time 2.0.
I think as far as supporting cast gos they're portrayed through the twisted mirror of Patrick like everything in the story. He sees all the women the same. He doesn't care about them just sex and his money they spend. This is supported by the lyrics "what do you do for a living? No don't answer that I don't care." (It could be just a joke about small talk) It shows how little care Patrick has for others. As far as their obsession with him, it falls to his ego. In his mind anyone attracted to men MUST be madly obsessed with him, the perfect man. That's why Lewis is obsessed with him in every media. Patrick is literally the guy that says "it's fine that you're gay just don't be in love with mE" (loved this video tho!)
And not to mention how in „nice thought” patricks mother says it would be good if they got married if her shoes were better
The ensemble looks like they are from a Robert Palmer video, not the Matrix.
i still can’t believe they took out sri lanka im so pissed off about it
The music that starts at the beginning sounds like the music that plays in my towns aquarium jellyfish exhibit
i will forever miss killing time 1.0. rest in peace. oh, and in the air tonight is the best jukebox song in the show. just my opinion, though i did really like all the other jukebox songs, i thought in the air tonight invoked a the strongest vibe. i was unsettled and glanced over my shoulder twice while watching the boot, plus i got goosebumps. i also don’t even care but mistletoe alert i.d kind of a bop just because i like the vocals.
It is me or Patrick Bateman looks like Matpad?
Okay but MatPat would kill it in this role. No pun intended.
I wonder, what do you think of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, starring the same man?
Actually, now that I think of it, the vignettes remind me of a dark edgy version of Company.
Now I know I should watch the British version instead or at least first.
Sadly, there's no way of watching the British version.. (Believe me, I tried so badly to find a recording of the British cast) You can listen to the London cast album, though
Why is that? I’m sure someone recorded even a portion of it.
@@mylesco.5385 There is an audio recording of the show though. I think I have a link somewhere.
Why was the British version not released?
@@crystalbry4741 I don't understand what you mean. No one ever recorded video of the London production.
i have never seen a musical with a Christmas song
Meh I prefer canible the musical
American psycho the musical sounds like a Family guy joke
What happened to your Greatest Showman review?? I was really looking forward to it
+Cute Sushi Copyright strike took it down. Thank Fox.
Book of Mormon please
I must ask, will you be doing one on the broadway musical for Anastasia? I haven't actually seen the show but I am in love with the soundtrack (It's on repeat in my car pretty much) and would love to hear your thoughts on it!
Lmao we all know you were talking about Drew when you were talking about staying on pitch 😏
Did he diss Ronald Reagan?
I fucking loved this musical.
Late as F to the Party, but I just thought of something. I was also mad that the women don't do anything or have any character development been then I thought that this might be because its from Patrick's POV and he just sees all people as one note objects and so that's how they appear to the audience as well? Just an Idea probably wrong.
Yep, that’s why I think the women are the way they are.
There’s a musical?!!
Yes
The Broadway show was outstanding... I loved it!
Same. And I disagree with so much of this. There are so good points made, but damn, I disagree with most of it
I'm a whovian so I guess I need to listen to this.
I listened to this because I'm a whovian (and kinda addicted to Matt Smith's voice) and I've been listening to the London cast album for over a month on repeat now and wow, I still can't stop
Great review, love the musical...
I don't really like how sri lanka sounds but I still think they should have had some sort of gosh darn song instead of like three spoken lines about it
Annabelle Lam Personally I always thought the monologue was funnier
It was all real none of it was a dream imo
I rarely can say this, but I agree with everything in this review. Every single word should be underlined, and yes, I also like the show. However, I think the book is a masterpiece, and the film is garbage (not Christian Bale's fault).
Whats the problem with the movie? I feel they did a great job however i'm yet to read the book.
@@lucelenthawk3543 I might have to watch it again one of these days; it has been many years. Coming from the book, I found it difficult judging the film on its own merits. The film too often soft-pedals the books very edgy narrative and extreme violence. It completely loses many of the references to material culture (which the musical restores). But I think the cardinal sin is that the movie superimposes a kind of conventional narrative that the book carefully avoids, e.g., Bateman's father as CEO of the company he works for, the wholecloth invention of Willem Dafoe's character, the nicely wrapped-up ending. The books is told in fragments that are out of order, and follows no conventional plot structure. I think what puzzled me at the time was, given all those changes, that the film needed to work differently than the book, and it never worked for me.
@@mapanzer actually the film follows along okay with the book. The detective for example is a character, he was meant to look more like Patrick’s peer but he wasn’t totally invented. They toned down the violence of course but the point was still made and he still makes frequent Terence’s to pop culture. I’d definitely give it another chance!
Is there any critique of the musical in your social commentary?
Hilarious to me when actors and critics make political commentary. Critics are professional useless people
Omg…Reagan created A psychic killer! Omg crack open a book sometime! 🤔
I mean he set the bar for men around the us in a way, and patrick was obsessed with being above par.