Beetlejuice, the beloved horror comedy from the 80’s, got the musical treatment back in 2018 and is currently touring the USA. They’re currently haunting the Hollywood Pantages which is where I got to see this spectacle of a show.
The musical deviates from the source material, which the show calls out in the opening number, so some of the plot has changed for the musical. In this Beetlejuice, we follow the titular demon Beetlejuice as he attempts to become seen by the living. He first tries to enlist the help of the Maitlands who recently died and are left to haunt their former home. But when their scaring abilities are slim to none, he tries to take advantage of Lydia, the mourning teenager who recently moved into the Maitlands home with her neglectful father and her life-coach-turned-future-stepmom Delia. Lots of hijinks and chaos ensue, leading to an attempted resurrection, fateful family reunions, and a wedding that ends in death.
Beetlejuice is genuinely one of the most entertaining shows I have been to. This was largely due to the humor and the performances of the cast. The humor is meant to shock, which it does for sure, and is definitely not for the conservative. But if you’re willing to embrace the debauchery, you will have a good time. And the cast plays a huge role in making the material as enjoyable as it is. Everyone in that cast was giving 110%. My personal favorites were Delia, played perfectly by Kate Marilley, and Beetlejuice, played by Justin Collette. The ensemble also deserves love because they were really impressive throughout the whole show.
I personally had a very basic knowledge of the original film prior to seeing the musical, since I have never actually watched the film. But not seeing the film doesn’t actually matter in my opinion because everything you need to know is in the show. This is especially true since they did make quite a few changes from the original source material.
Overall, Beetlejuice is a ridiculous show in the best way possible and held up to the hype that surrounds it. It definitely is not a show for everyone, especially not for young children or your conservative family members. But if you can take a joke, even if crass, then you’ll have a good time. I would honestly go and see Beetlejuice again.