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Starring Matt Smith (of Doctor Who fame) with music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, the musical is based from the 1991 novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis which was made into a 2000 film which starred Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe and Jared Leto. American Psycho is the story of Patrick Bateman, a very wealthy investment banker who also happens to be a serial killer. Living in a very chic high rise in Manhattan, with a job that most men his age would die for, is not enough for Bateman. He has a sadistic side, a side that no one in his circle of friends or family know about, not even his girlfriend.

While the book and film could be categorized in the slasher/horror film genre, the musical is presented purely as a very dark black comedy. In the opening scene, Smith comes up from beneath the stage, in his very sleek, minimalist apartment, on his sunbed, wearing tight white underwear and displaying his buff body. From this point on we know that this is definitely not your typical musical.

Bateman from the outset looks, and is, crazy. We know this just by watching his interaction with other people, and by his facial features. Smith’s perfect cheekbones and square jaw complements the character he has become. Bateman is a killer who shows no remorse, he kills who he kills, whether it be prostitutes, or one of his friends, he just needs to kill.

Set in 1980’s Manhattan, Bateman and his boys live it up in high style, with very beautiful girlfriends (Susannah Fielding is very memorable, and very beautiful as Katie, Bateman’s gal) and a very beautiful circle of friends, both male and female. Throw in some cocaine, late nights at the very famous Tunnel nightclub, and what you have are ingredients that make the recipe for the hedonistic lifestyle of these young Wall Street boys during this era. Bateman’s secretary confesses to him that she loves him (Cassandra Compton, singing in a beautiful voice), and at one point in the show he tells her “don’t wear that outfit again, you’re prettier than that.” Meanwhile, Bateman is sleeping with his girlfriend’s best friend, and to make his life even crazier (like he needs it), his best friend makes the announcement that he, too, is in love with him. Even when a detective shows up at his office to ask questions about a missing friend, Bateman has a hard time processing what is real and what is not real. In the middle of all this, the boys and girls break out into song, with one of the most memorable being about who has the best business cards.

American Psycho the musical doesn’t exactly follow the book and film’s storyline, but it works in every way thanks to Rupert Goold’s brilliant production and Lynne page’s smashing choreography (including a couple well choreographed sex and murder scenes). The set design is as sleek as expected, going from Bateman’s flat, to his office, to an outdoor scene where he makes his first killing – a homeless man, to a scene in Barney’s department store, then transforming into the Tunnel nightclub, and then to a christmas party in his girlfriend’s apartment. Throw in a 1980’s soundtrack, including Huey Lewis & The News “Hip to be Square” and New Order’s “True Faith”, and what is presented in front of your eyes is perhaps the slickest and craziest musical you will ever see. Unfortunately, it’s two month run at The Almeida Theatre is sold out, so let’s hope this show makes it to the West End, and hopefully with Matt Smith in the lead. He, and the show, are brilliant.