Friday, September 26, 2008

"A Spectacular Train Wreck You Have to Watch"

In yet another "What the fuck are they thinking?" musical-to-be moment, my friend Ruth sent me this...

"Plans are afoot for a stage musical adaptation of 'American Psycho,' the Bret Easton Ellis novel that was adapted into a 2000 film starring 'Dark Knight' actor Christian Bale.

"The Johnson-Roessler Company, The Collective and XYZ Films have partnered to 'acquire, develop and produce the live stage version,' according to a press statement. No dramatists have been confirmed for the production, which will feature a mix of original music and hit tunes from the eighties.

"In a statement co-producer Johnson said, American Psycho continues to be a cultural phenomenon. Ellis' book contains so many memorable lines and musical references that a live musical production is the perfect fit. The character of Patrick Bateman has become an icon for fans of Ellis' book and the film adaptation, and now we can bring this dark but comical world of greed to the stage in an entertaining and thought-provoking way.

"Writer Ellis added, 'This is the perfect storm of creative people to turn American Psycho into an entertaining musical play. American Psycho's essence is the high-flying 80s, the decadence and the music — together, they are the equivalent of a spectacular train wreck you have to watch.'"

Speaking of a "spectacular train wreck," as with the upcoming Spider-Man musical, I can't help but think that American Psycho: The Musical! will undoubtedly turn out like another horror movie turned musical - - Carrie: The Musical!

For those you who don't know the musical version of Carrie...

...Which ran for 15 previews and 5 performances and is considered to be the worse musical ever written, probably because no one in New York was present for a reading of a musical I did during the Stages Festival a few years back entitled "The Money Tree," which was one of those shows that was so horrifically bad, I actually encouraged my friends to see it so we would be able to laugh and drink about it for years
 to come...

...here's a little clip of Pat Collins' Opening Night television review.  Some people think this show was judged too harshly; I am not one of those people...







I'm all for a hot, naked man running around with a chain saw covered in blood...

...especially when that man is Christian Bale...

...but when you add showtunes to that, I lose my hardon.  

Fast.



5 comments:

Mike Ellis, The Jolly Reprobate said...

I actually kinda wished I'd seen the Carrie musical now. From the clips in her review, I'm betting that most of the characters were begging to be killed by the time it was over, and that would be so refreshing in a horror film.

Lance Noe said...

You DO know that CARRIE is my favorite show EVER!

SERIOUSLY! i am obessed!

I have the full score, the vocal score, the workshop bootleg CD, the london bootleg CD, the broadway bootleg CD, the demo bootleg CD, the broadway DVD bootleg, The stage door manor Bootleg dvd and the ORIGINAL box office poster card along with the script for all the shows - including a highlighted, marked and coffee stain copy of BARBARA COOK as the mother (she was the original mother in england) SCRIPT! i have an interview with the betty buckley and lydnsey hately that was never aired or printed not sure what it was for AAND i have some of the original NOTES FROM THE SCRIPT OF THE STAGE MANAGERS! which, by the way, are fucking HIGH - larious!!!!!!

YOU BETTER RESPECT BITCH, RESPECT!

philip said...

I should write the book for that musical. Think about it, Rader. That would be one solid book musical.

There'd be a whole song about the different shades of white used in business cards. That's just crying for gay-ass lyrics. Who do I have to fuck with a chainsaw to get this writing gig?

Aaron said...

Gee, but did Pat Collins LIKE "Carrie The Musical" or not? I'm still left wondering...;-)

Well, at least "American Psycho" can be funnier...the movie was droll, which lends itself to that kind of humor. I'm not sure how they're going to work the music into it. But I think Pitchford and Gore might have to sit this one out...

Polt said...

Hmm, Stephen, I would think adding showtunes to ANYTHING would get rock hard faster than a viagra cocktail. :)

HUGS...