The same raunchy humor found in the 1990s Tim Burton classic film “Beetlejuice” came alive on opening night, March 19, at the Fox Theatre.
“Beetlejuice” is a laugh-out-loud musical that follows Lydia Deetz, an unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon. The production is directed by Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers with an original score by Eddie Perfect.
Audiences are sure to love the cunning, crass title character delightfully played by Justin Collette who makes a punchy entrance to remind us: “It’s a show about death!” His comedic timing and off-script riffing are on point.
And yet, it is the women on stage who steal the show.
“Beetlejuice” opens with a spooky funeral scene in which Lydia, played by understudy Jackera Davis, politely sings about sadness. Her voice and mannerisms grow over the course of the show as her character gains confidence. By the final scene, Davis is belting out tunes while levitating, coming full circle on her feelings about “Dead Mom.”
Kris Roberts has a dual role as a purple-clad dinner party guest with an unforgettable cackle, and Juno, the afterlife caseworker in Neitherworld who has a bone to pick with Beetlejuice. I’d see the musical again just to watch her on stage.
Sarah Litzinger as Delia is just as annoying, syrupy sweet, and adorable as possible.
The audience was made up of about a third of tweens and teens, many dressed in black and white stripes. My theatre partner for the evening, a seventh grader, said the show’s sense of humor, run time, and plot were on par for kids ages 12-15. We agreed the show’s middle school humor was giggle-worthy.
The usual opening night jitters were at play, including a missed cue from the orchestra. Even so, the audience loved all of the shenanigans, including a spontaneous scene in which Beetlejuice waved his mother’s severed leg at Lydia, who couldn’t stop laughing.
Don’t miss this fun, chaotic production. Be aware, “Beetlejuice” includes substantial haze and fog, sudden loud noises, pyrotechnics, and strobe lighting effects.
Shaw Gordon, a 7th grade student at Woodward Academy, contributed to this review.