![Ben Gerrard as Patrick Bateman (left) in American Psycho - The Musical at Canberra Theatre Centre. Picture: Elesa Kurtz Ben Gerrard as Patrick Bateman (left) in American Psycho - The Musical at Canberra Theatre Centre. Picture: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/hU74HdTxzzWB78D7znDAb9/3f7523bd-07a9-48ac-aa27-2111e7fec5bc.jpg/r0_288_3598_2311_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
As they say in the theatre, the show must go on. And for what seems like a rarity in the Covid world, it has.
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American Psycho - The Musical began its season at the Canberra Theatre Centre on Wednesday evening, with Sydney cast and crew receiving exemptions to enter and perform in the capital, albeit with strict restrictions as to what they can do and where they can go. For example, the cast is restricted to the stage and backstage spaces while at the theatre.
"The hurdles that the ACT government and Adam at the Canberra Theatre have jumped through logistically is incredible," cast member Erin Clare said.
"For them to support the arts in a time that has been so difficult for us has been so heartening. It feels like we have space here in the ACT to do our jobs and get on with it.
"The fact that Canberra is supporting the arts in this way sets such an amazing benchmark for the rest of the states and cities and I think Canberra can be so proud that they are a shining example of letting the show go on."
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Based on Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 controversial best-selling novel and the 2000 film of the same name, American Psycho tells the story of Patrick Bateman (played by Ben Gerrard), who by day is a wealthy investment banker living a life of excess in 1980s Manhattan. But by night, Patrick takes part in a darker indulgence, to reveal the serial killer within.
![The famous business card scene from American Psycho - The Musical. Picture: Elesa Kurtz The famous business card scene from American Psycho - The Musical. Picture: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/hU74HdTxzzWB78D7znDAb9/cf9a74c6-14a7-40e3-96d6-f3b28d2d2e4d.jpg/r0_59_3761_2174_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Clare portrays Courtney Lawrence in the stage production, Bateman's lover and one of the many women living in this misogynistic world.
"I think the show is an absolute comment on misogyny, and a comment on the toxicity of Wall Street and masculinity in general," Clare said.
"It's really deep satire. We are absolutely in no way condoning this behaviour. It's more like, 'can you believe that these people are behaving that way?'"
American Psycho - The Musical is a camp, all-singing and all-dancing take on a dark story. And when it does come to the violence in the show, director Alex Berlage said it is neither here nor there when it comes to the main point to the plot.
![American Psycho - The Musical is at Canberra Theatre Centre this week. Picture: Elesa Kurtz American Psycho - The Musical is at Canberra Theatre Centre this week. Picture: Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/hU74HdTxzzWB78D7znDAb9/a61b0e43-491e-4aae-9597-3e51e16cf2dd.jpg/r0_0_3816_2145_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Yes, what the character does is horrific, but overall it is a story of grotesque capitalism and toxic masculinity.
"It's interesting when you look at these really violent acts and thoughts, and you compare them against these moments of grotesque capitalism," he said.
"You look at what relevance these moments have in our lives, and the fact that these things are actually real - compared to the violent acts - and it makes you see them as being equally as shocking, if not more shocking.
"So at its core, this is a very dark social satire, which holds up a mirror to who we are as humans in this self-obsessed capitalist world."
- American Psycho: The Musical is at the Canberra Theatre Centre until Saturday. Tickets from canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
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