Monumental Theatre’s Brilliant Production of American Psycho, the Musical, Taps Into the Twisted Mind of a Serial Killer
American Psycho
Monumental Theatre
Jordan Wright
July 12, 2024
Kyle Dalsimer and the Cast of American Psycho (Photo/Christopher Mueller)
Set in the financial center of New York City during the high-flying, coke-fueled 1980’s when young bucks ruled Wall Street, American Psycho personifies that high-flying era of über excess and inglorious greed within a corporate coliseum. Monumental Theatre turns this story into an immersive and highly sensory experience, seating the audience within mere feet of the action. For those familiar with the stage or film version, this is a far more intense experience. I had my doubts before going, but I can say it is one of the most memorably visceral productions I’ve ever seen.
L-R Kyle Dalsimer, RJ Pavel, Jeremy Crawford, Stephen Russell Murray, and Carson Young (Photo/ Christopher Mueller)
There is an immediacy of place as soon as you enter. The walls are covered with pleated plastic sheeting as in a crime scene and there is a bar serving cocktails. Red banquettes with small tables are positioned closest to the stage. (When you go online to purchase tickets, you can decide if you want to be close or in the risers.) A stunning and quite stylish DJ, Marika Countouris, overlooks the scene from a raised booth. She plays keyboard and grooves to the beat and handles the techno club music.
Kyle Dalsimer (Photo/Christopher Mueller)
Fair warning: There is blood and lots of it. The anti-hero, 26-year-old Patrick Bateman, is a serial killer extraordinaire – an obsessive-compulsive, label-obsessed (“You Are What You Wear”) freak and narcissist. He manifests as a sociopath with a grand plan for ridding the world of his competition, or in fact, anyone he disapproves of. Patrick has mommy issues, worships Donald Trump and has a fabulously wealthy girlfriend, Evelyn (Jordyn Taylor), who ignores his murderous rants and uses him as arm candy on her Hamptons’ weekend jaunts. This is a man who dreams of slaughter when his friends dream of mistletoe. As for his friends and co-workers, they’re far too busy clawing their way to the top to take him seriously. Only his secretary, Jean, whom he abuses daily, sticks with him. This is straight up crime drama set to music. It is both emotional and cerebral, and you can’t look away for a millisecond.
The Cast of American Psycho (Photo/Christopher Mueller)
As Patrick’s depersonalization of his world and his insatiable appetite for bloodlust increase, his ability to conjure new ways to murder becomes front of mind. Kyle Dalsimer is sensational in his portrayal of the frenzied serial killer. His performance is award-winning and riveting times a thousand. He is so utterly believable in the role I’d hate to be his real-life neighbor. The entire ensemble is tight. Their voices are like a fine choir so seamlessly do they blend in the ballads as well as the pop-rock numbers. Brilliantly directed by Michael Windsor, this production is a tour de force for this small but mighty theater company who have garnered 28 Helen Hayes Award nominations with two wins in their short nine years of operation.
Highly recommended, but not for the faint of heart!
Kyle Dalsimer and Sarah Stewart (Photo/Christopher Mueller)
With Noah Mutterperl as Paul et al, Jeremy Allen Crawford as Luis/et al, Carson Young as Van Patten/et al, Stephen Russell Murray as McDermott/et al, Kaeli Patchen as Jean, Sarah Stewart as Courtney /et al, Jessica Barraclough as Sabrina/et al, Valerie Nagel as Christine/et al, Sydne Lyons as Mrs. Bateman/et al, and Cam Powell and Deema Turkomani as swings.
Scenic Design by Michael Windsor and Laura Valenti, Music Design by Marika Countouris, Choreography by Ahmad Maaty, Lighting Design by Helen Garcia-Alton, Costume Design by Elizabeth Morton, Projection Design by Julian Kelley, Fight and Intimacy Direction by Bess Kaye, Dance Captain Jessica Barraclough, Albeton programming by Tobi Osibodu.
Through July 21st at Ainslie Arts Center, 3900 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22302. For tickets visit www.MonumentalTheatre.org/American-Psycho