BEETLEJUICE Reviews

[dmwnc1959]

jayinchelsea said: "Have to agree that these reviews will not sell full-price (or premium) tickets for this show."

 

It’s pretty much why I hadn’t already handed over my credit card for a $190 front row center mezzanine seat. The reviews have changed my direction, but not solidified my purchase. 

I do wonder when the Playbill discount codes will extend into summer for FIDDLER and BEETLEJUICE? They’re already there for KING KONG, not that it’s still on my list. 

 

[JudyDenmark]

Miles2Go2 said: "Judy - I hope you’ll report back on your thoughts afterward. "

Ok, I have had a particularly stressful work week and honestly had no energy left to see a show... and based on the comments here I didn’t exactly have my hopes up. But you know what? Turned out to be the exact ridiculous fluff I needed to unwind. I can’t say I loved the score, and there were some plot holes, and I will never understand why nasal singing is a good thing, but damned if I wasn’t smiling through almost all of that. Who knew! (Also found myself briefly ugly crying at the “what if I forget her” Dead Mom bit, which was wholly unexpected.)

Didn’t hurt that the audience was going absolutely ballistic, which always adds to an experience! The only other time I remember that level of energy was during Hello Dolly previews. (Side note - loved the Dolly reference.) 

Anyway, maybe I’m just a softie, but I think people have been too hard on this. There’s a whole lot to like about it. The “conductor” at the curtain call was the cherry on top. 

Also... a little substance-of-choice beforehand wouldn’t hurt if that’s your thing. Can’t take this show too seriously. :)

[Miles2Go2]

Thanks, Judy! I hope you have a relaxing weekend. Sounds like you could use it.

[JudyDenmark]

Ha - thank you. I’m beyond excited to sleep in tomorrow. And also excited that with this, I’ve now seen all of the season’s musicals, so can make educated guesses on my totally irrelevant Tony predictions. :)

[Miles2Go2]

Another review:

http://artsfuse.org/183761/theater-review-beetlejuice-bombards-broadway/

[DAME]

JudyDenmark said:  "Also... a little substance-of-choice beforehand wouldn’t hurt if that’s your thing. Can’t take this show too seriously. :)"

 

THAT-A GIRL!

[TobiasRagg]

I saw the show on the last night of previews and I really did enjoy it. Beetlejuice has always been one of my favorite movies so I went in a little worried, but left feeling great.

Also, I feel so bad for Eddie Perfect and every negative critics’ use of his name in their reviews: “less-than-Perfect”, “far from Perfect”, etc. I feel like that’s just a zero-effort, low attempt at humor.

It just feels like people are trying way too hard to hate this show. 

[SFFrontRow]

JudyDenmark said:  "Also... a little substance-of-choice beforehand wouldn’t hurt if that’s your thing. Can’t take this show too seriously. :)"

Thanks for your opinions on the show Judy, you kinda hit on all the reasons I wanted to see this show. It's Beetlejuice for criminy sakes, and I do intend on following your "beforehand" advice. And I think you accurately hit the whole point of this show, enjoy the environment and don't take it so seriously.

[darquegk]

Watching the consensus fail to develop, and seeing the way critics tend to agree that the show is "much of a muchness" but not actually that bad if you can buy into that trying-too-hard energy, the overall experience reminds me of Heathers, another show where people had very strong feelings but the critics didn't.

One big difference: Heathers is significantly less iconic of a cult film... but also a better movie on its own merits. I love Beetlejuice, but I'll be the first to tell you that it's more of an aesthetic experience than a narrative film. It's a series of loosely-connected set pieces (often built around literal physical set pieces) and a collection of fascinating but uneven performances, caused in part by the way Michal McDowell's gay-camp-meets-horror script was gradually unwritten day by day as more improvisation was added. Michael Keaton, for instance, is playing a character BASED on McDowell's crafty, shape-shifting djinn, but Keaton improvised almost all of his lines and created a new character to use as a framework, throwing out what appears to be a Peter Lorre homage in McDowell's screenplay and instead playing a caricature of his Pittsburgh colleague Don Brockett. Tim Burton decided to steer away from plot and structure and into surrealist anarchy, hence the increasing absence of plot as the film goes on. You can't really adapt a piece like that in any literal sense, and it sounds like out of town they stepped away from some of the Burton material towards a more "original" piece, but for Broadway they've brought back some of those movie set pieces, because by now it wouldn't be Beetlejuice without them.

[LLW2]

I’m doing a Broadway weekend – I saw Hadestown, Oklahoma!, and Tootsie – and I noticed that Beetlejuice is putting clever targeted ads in some of the Playbills. For Hadestown, the ad says, “Enjoy the underworld. Then come to the netherworld.” For Oklahoma!, it says, “Oh, what a beautiful mourning. Oh, what a beautiful day-o.” Tonight I saw Tootsie and was hoping to see a Tootsie-oriented ad, but no, nothing for that show. I was wondering if folks have seen other Playbills with Beetlejuice’s show-oriented ads.

[Chicago_Guy]

LOVED Beetlejuice! Didn’t have high expectations but had so much fun! Is the music memorable...no. Is the musical your normal musical...no. Its unique and really the productions. The leads are fantastic and keeps you engaged throughout the entire performance. I’d highly recommend it!

[WldKingdomHM]

Saw the show last night. Is it a masterpiece? No. Was it silly fun? YES. The book and Act 2 are a mess. Alex was playing Alex he really has nothing to do but whine the whole time about wanting a friend. I felt like Beetlejuice was a good guy the whole time. The opening was ok and really it could of been done without Beetlejuice. The rest of the cast was great and Leslie deserved that Nomination. Go have a couple of drinks and enjoy it. Don’t expect the movie on stage.

[Lot666]

WldKingdomHM said: "The opening was ok and really it could of been done without Beetlejuice"

Are you referring to "The Whole Being Dead Thing"? I just watched the performance of that song on the Today show, and it made me want to see the show, but without Alex Brightman. I liked the song itself and the ensemble all dressed in black with the umbrellas and the casket, but his gravelly voice started to grate on me before the number was over. I kept thinking that the song would be quite fun - and dare I say it, memorable - as an ensemble number.

[dshnookie]

I couldn’t even finish that Today Show performance. I’m happy for those who enjoyed it, just not my jam.

[YvanEhtNioj]

I find my self randomly singing "Say My Name" throughout the day since I've seen it. I cant remember much of the other songs, but I thought that one was really catchy. 

The lines where she almost says his name are clever, " Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Be a doll and spare the lecture". "Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, being young and female.."  

[Charley Kringas Inc]

I do have to hand it to Eddie Perfect, "All I wanna do is hear that sound" might be one of the worst sequences of incessantly repeated notes in any musical I've ever heard.

[WldKingdomHM]

Oh and they need 100 percent to cut those horrible lights pre show and at intermission

[dramamama611]

Yup.....set off a migraine for me.   (and the music on a boring constant loop.)

[broadway86]

Charley Kringas Inc said: "I do have to hand it to Eddie Perfect, "All I wanna do is hear that sound" might be one of the worst sequences of incessantly repeated notes in any musical I've ever heard."

Agreed, it's unfathomably awful.

[BroadwayBarb2]

Agreed, I saw Beetlejuice last week.  Went in with low expectations but loved it.  The reaction from the audience was great.  All in all a really fun night.  In fact, I may go see it again if I get a great price.

[SweetLips22]

Read a very interesting[long] piece on FB from Eddie Perfect[don't know how to attach, sorry] defending himself from all the negativity.

It's very Australian, funny?, human and with some explanations of the process to reach opening night.

Thank goodness he has two little daughters that will help him heal[it's all on FB].

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Anyone have a quote/screenshot of the FB post? I just checked his account and don’t see anything.

[Midnight Radio]

Look on his personal account, it's there.

I have to say, that post is remarkably bitter and focused on negativity for someone who's show had just been (undeservedly) nominated for 8 Tony awards...

Also, he paraphrased that gem of a quote:
"See? A Hummable F*****G MELODY"
 

[Pashacar]

Yeah the post reads rude and idiotic to me. What a surprise....

https://www.facebook.com/eddieperfectofficial/posts/10158124318832316

[WldKingdomHM]

Oh please with him. If I had to hear the word, "Mom" or "Dead Mom" one more time in a song....