American Psycho: A Musical Thriller (See You Sunday), at Chapel Off Chapel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A powerhouse performance by Conor Beaumont as serial killer Patrick Bateman leads the way in this slick production of American Psycho: A Musical Thriller.

Bateman only feels truly alive when he is taking an axe, meat cleaver, drill, nail gun, chain saw or long barrelled gun to his hapless victims.

This sick puppy’s mantra is to let the claret flow … freely.

Photos by Cameron Grant at Parenthesy

It takes a while for his blood lust to reach its zenith, but once it does, there is no holding back.

It is attack, dismember, rinse and repeat.

The story is set in New York City in the late 1980s and is that of 26-year-old investment banker Bateman.

Haughty, he likes the finer things in life, dressing in designer labels.

With a prestigious account up for grabs, he enjoys lauding it over his colleagues.

They include Timothy Price (Jake Ameduri), Craig McDermott (Dan Ham) and David van Patten (Lauchlan Mant).

Bateman is taken aback when another of them, Paul Owen (Harley Dasey), lands the account ahead of him and has printed even better business cards than his.

Further, Owen has ready access to the finest restaurant in town, which others, including Bateman, struggle to get into.

Bateman can’t hide his envy.

To add insult to injury, Owen mistakes Bateman, who he makes plain he doesn’t like, for another of their colleagues.

Bateman has a doting secretary, Jean (Montana Sharp), who holds him in the highest regard. Truth be told, she has designs on him.

Bateman also has an uppity, highly stressed girlfriend, Evelyn Willliams (Mia Dabkowski-Chandler), he doesn’t really care for. She is putting on the pressure for him to put a ring on her finger.

Photo by Hugh McDonnell

Bateman frequently cheats on her, including with her best friend, Courtney Lawrence (Meg Williams).

In turn, Courtney is in a relationship with another of his colleagues, Luis Carruthers (Aaron Robuck), who is gay and has made a bee line for Bateman.

But what really drives Bateman is savagery of the highest order.

He gets off on inflicting pain, before doing away with his unsuspecting victims, and then covering his tracks.

His torture trail starts out with a homeless man and escorts, but extends to others now that he has totally lost control of his homicidal tendencies, his self-worth shot.

All that unfolds is seen through Patrick Bateman’s twisted lens.

With book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, American Psycho: A Musical Thriller is based on a 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

Easton Ellis’ tome also inspired a 2000 film that starred Christian Bale.

The musical premiered in London in 2013 and opened on Broadway three years later.

See You Sunday has made a top shelf production count, with a richly talented cast that thrives musically, choreographically and with the affectations they bring to bear.

They pout and flex, as appropriate, several filling multiple roles.

Conor Beaumont is the standout, bringing arrogance, entitlement, self-loathing and a strong vocal tone to his role as Bateman.

It is he who is tasked with most of the heavy lifting, and he executes with confidence and precision.

His fast-paced patter is something to behold.

I couldn’t get enough of Montana Sharp’s honeyed vocals and sweet disposition as Jean.

Mia Dabkowski-Chandler turns it on as Bateman’s over the top, needy girlfriend, Evelyn Williams.

But she is not the only grandstander. Jake Ameduri is all about deliberate excess in realising Bateman’s co-worker Timothy Price.

I liked the one-upmanship evident in Harley Dasey as he goes toe-to-toe with Bateman as his adversary, Paul Owen.

Aaron Robuck brings the necessary nerdiness and fawning display to Luis Caruthers.

Meg Williams is also noteworthy as Bateman’s secret lover and other roles.

In fact, all 11 performers do a mighty fine job, harmonising well and delivering big time.

Aaron Robuck is not only Bateman’s persistent suitor, but serves as a most skilful musical director, with a score than includes many melodic, up-tempo numbers.

Scene changes are seamless, as is Sophie Loughran’s well considered and engaging choreography, including dance sequences, acrobatics and aerobics.

The musical is enhanced by its masterful production design, including video design from Christopher Anderson, which incorporates evocative clips and famous quotes.

Clean set design by Harry Gill, killer props (I mean that both figuratively and literally) and striking costuming by Jessamine Moffett enhance the offering.

The lighting cues by Sidney Younger and sound design by Marcello Lo Ricco add further impact.

So it is that this descent into the darkness of a warped mind is a triumph for See You Sunday, under the assured guidance of director Mark Taylor, who doesn’t miss a beat.

American Psycho: A Musical Thriller is on at Chapel Off Chapel until 21st November, 2026.