BEETLEJUICE Reviews

[Dkinny23]

Hey for people who have rushed or played the digital lottery, where have seats been? Also do they have standing room?

[astorian_ofthe_heart]

I saw this last night, and I have to reiterate everything JudyDenmark said. I really just had a good time. Alex Timbers took a flawed score and made it enjoyable. I will tell you right now, if you want something where you can just turn off your brain for a couple of hours and just enjoy the spectacle of musical theatre, this is your show. It's going to be great for tourists, and it'll probably grab some Tony wins for set and lighting. I really don't get all the hate for this show. It's fun, fluffy, and the performances are amazing. Alex Brightman was a delight. 

My roommates won lottery for this, and their seats were second-row Orchestra, Seats 5 and 7. They said they were incredible seats, and they could see all the little details, but nothing detracted from the spectacle. I sat in the last row of orchestra right, and it was a full-view seat. The mezz overhang didn't obstruct the view at all, and it was far enough back to see full pictures but close enough to see expressions and details. They technically do have standing room, but I'm pretty sure they're only selling it when the show was sold out. On a Wednesday night, they were not at 100% capacity, so I didn't see anyone in the standing room section.

There are definitely strobes and lots of flashing lights. I'm particularly prone to migraines, but I did not get any sort of headache during this. The green lights and dim atmosphere during intermission actually helped me, because the transition to intermission is when I usually get my migraines during shows.

 

[LoLsmileyFace]

As someone who is prone to migraines also, the lights did not effect me at all.  I really enjoyed how immersive the show is, from the moment you walk in the theater.  The lights and music pumped me up for the show. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

I went to see it for a second time last night, but I finally watched the movie for the first time a couple days ago so I could compare the two. My friend wanted to go see her first Broadway show, so I woke up early hungover in my PJs and got us two rush tickets. We took the advice someone gave before (again) and got wine drunk before. 

Even though it's soooo different from the movie, it didn't make me feel any differently about the show. I really love the way they took Beetlejuice and turned him up 5 notches. The music is very, very weak but the show itself was so f***ing fun from start to finish! I actually really like "Dead Mom", "Say My Name", and that "I'll be your guide to the other side" song.

Maybe it's because I'm stereotypical millennial trash, but i love all the jokes about cocaine and sex. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Sidebar - Sophie Turner and the Jonas Brothers were a couple seats from us! They were having a good 'ol time. 

[Owen22]

After 7am rushing Tootsie last Wednesday, I had some breakfast and wandered over to the Winter Garden. I had heard Beetlejuice gives out 30 to 50 Rush tickets a day, so even though it was 45 minutes past 10 I thought I'd try my luck. I got Row D on the aisle! 42 bucks.

And Beetlejuice turned out to be a way better show than Tootsie! Who knew?

[Owen22]

After 7am rushing Tootsie last Wednesday, I had some breakfast and wandered over to the Winter Garden. I had heard Beetlejuice gives out 30 to 50 Rush tickets a day, so even though it was 45 minutes past 10 I thought I'd try my luck. I got Row D on the aisle! 42 bucks.

And Beetlejuice turned out to be a way better show than Tootsie! Who knew?

[CATSNYrevival]

Does anyone know if they've recorded the album yet? Ghostlight Records has a 6/28 release date listed but it also says the date is subject to change. Are they likely working to try and get it up on iTunes before the Tony Awards broadcast?

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Watching this show made my soul hurt.  It's just such weak material.  

It really does play to the middle America crowd.

[KJisgroovy]

"It really does play to the middle America crowd."

This is such a painfully obnoxious attitude.

[LuPita2]

Yet completely accurate.

[massofmen]

KJisgroovy said: ""It really does play to the middle America crowd."

This is such apainfully obnoxious attitude."

and completely accurate. 

[Daddy Warbucks]

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "It's just such weak material.

It really does play to the middle America crowd."

These types of inflammatory and ignorant comments are why people like Trump become president and we all scratch our heads wondering what went wrong.  

 

[darquegk]

I saw a joke on Facebook: “this is what happens when we let straight people write musicals.”

As a straight musical writer, still laughed.

[CATSNYrevival]

I’m on the coast and I’m still excited to hear the album.

[YvanEhtNioj]

BenjaminNicholas2 said: "Watching this show made my soul hurt. It's just such weak material.

It really does play to the middle America crowd."

Nah. 

 

I think the majority of the people on this board are judging the show way too harshly for no apparent reason. I've seen it twice and each time I tried to justify all the hate that I've read here..and nothing. It's not perfect, but it's fun.  I just don't understand all the hate. People act like Eddie Perfect and Alex slept with their husband. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Christ, this board is getting even more filled with snobby 15 year olds than ever before.

“Beetlejuice” has an amazing set, solid performances, a serviceable (in most cases) score and a lot of humor (especially Kritzer). If you want Shakespeare, go see “King Lear”. People who walk into this show expecting some sort of transformative fine art experience are beyond ridiculous. This is f’ng BEETLEJUICE.

[Daddy Warbucks]

Jordan Catalano said: "Christ, this board is getting even more filled with snobby 15 year olds than ever before.

“Beetlejuice” has an amazing set, solid performances, a serviceable (in most cases) score and a lot of humor (especially Kritzer). If you want Shakespeare, go see “King Lear”. People who walk into this show expecting some sort of transformative fine art experience are beyond ridiculous. This is f’ng BEETLEJUICE. "

I already liked you. Now you are my favorite person ever. 

[Jordan Catalano]

It’s just ridiculous. I’m sure these are the same people who go on Yelp and write awful reviews of the wine selection at Arby’s.

[Broadway Joe]

I've lived here all my life and I enjoyed Beetlejuice more than most of the shows I've seen in the last year and couldn't agree more with Jordan.

[VintageSnarker]

Warbucks2 said: "
These types of inflammatory and ignorant comments arewhy people like Trump become president and we all scratch our heads wondering what went wrong.

"

Yeah, nope. 

[dramamama611]

Warbucks2 said: "BenjaminNicholas2 said: "It's just such weak material.

It really does play to the middle America crowd."

These types of inflammatory and ignorant comments arewhy people like Trump become president and we all scratch our heads wondering what went wrong.

"

Really? REALLY???

I didn't  love  the show, but, no, its not THAT BAD.  

 

 

[Daddy Warbucks]

VintageSnarker said: "Warbucks2 said: "
These types of inflammatory and ignorant comments arewhy people like Trump become president and we all scratch our heads wondering what went wrong.

"

Yeah, nope."

People in middle America (there happen to be a lot of them) don’t like to be called stupid or looked down upon (nobody does). When such attacks seem to come mostly from blue state democrats then it becomes harder for all of us to find common ground, change hearts and come together for the common good.

[leighmiserables]

Saw the matinee today. Got the first rush ticket of the day and was front row center Mezzanine -- a perfect seat to enjoy it from. I have to echo Jordan Catalano -- this show is just fun. The set made my jaw drop (how many rooms did they create with it? Just absurd!), the entire main cast was delightful (Brightman, Kritzer, and McClure especially, for me), and while I agree the score is mostly forgettable...well, to be completely honest I didn't go to Beetlejuice for a great score. I thought it more than made up for itself in numerous other areas.

I do agree at some points the jokes dive a little bit into the overly inappropriate/low-hanging-fruit (there were about one-too-many explicit sex jokes for something marketed as a family show), and there were some definite plot/pacing issues (that Netherworld song particularly stuck out to me as a bit of a head-scratching, why-is-that-there moment), but overall I left the Winter Garden today feeling more satisfied than I have been leaving any other musical this season (please note: I have not seen Hadestown or the revivals yet). 

Also -- there was something quite funny that happened during the performance today that I thought I'd share -- beneath a spoiler line for anyone who doesn't want a (albeit minor) plot spoiler: 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Near the end of the show when Juno (Beetlejuice's Mother) dies, Beetlejuice says to Lydia: "Now we BOTH had dead moms." This afternoon when Alex delivered it, he paused for a moment, seemed to realize something, then turned to the audience without missing a beat and said, "Happy Mother's Day, everyone!" A very little thing but it made the crowd go wild -- after all, there were many mothers with their children in the audience who were making comments about the show's subject matter (re: dead moms) at intermission. It really was just a hilarious little live theatre moment that I thought some would appreciate hearing :) 

 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Jordan Catalano said: "It’s just ridiculous. I’m sure these are the same people who go on Yelp and write awful reviews of the wine selection at Arby’s. "

LMFAO. Exactly. One person came on and said they hated it. From that point on, the majority of the people here then decided to jump on the "this is the worst thing I've ever seen " train and bash the show because they went in with a "such and such said it's a bad show so it has to be bad!" mindset. If THIS is the worst thing you've ever seen and THIS hurts your soul Sooooo much, I really want to know what productions you're seeing. If it's not for you, cool. But the hatred and energy people are putting into the show just seems so fake and forced. Everything doesn't have to be as deep as Brigadoon