Beetlejuice is a Wild, Riotous Ride . . . with a Surprising Amount of Heart

Pictured (L-R): Madison Mosley (Lydia) and Justin Collette (Beetlejuice)
Photo by Matthew Murphy, 2024

When Tim Burton’s creepy, kooky film, Beetlejuice, debuted in 1988, it was to much acclaim. It was weird, sure, but it was also wonderful, and that magical blend delighted audiences. It’s no surprise, then, that the staged musical version, which features a film-inspired book by Scott Brown and Anthony King and music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect, would be just as odd and loveable. That uncanny mix of the strange and the heartfelt comes together perfectly—with a few surprise twists mixed in for good measure—in this uproariously funny musical, directed by Alex Timbers and onstage now at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC).

Before the show even begins, there’s a circus-like atmosphere in the air. The flashing lights and promise of fun quickly cuts, however, to a somber, bleaker scene. Young Lydia (Madison Mosley) is attending her mother’s graveside service. As she sings about feeling “Invisible,” the titular Beetlejuice (Justin Collette) appears on stage and reveals his plight to the audience: he’s even more invisible than Lydia—like, literally invisible. Only dead people can see him . . . unless he can trick some living person into saying his name three times. When that happens, he’ll be allowed to wreak havoc. 

Of course, the audience will quickly learn that Lydia has special abilities, including the ability to see Beetlejuice . . . and a few other spirits she’ll soon encounter. Those spirits come in the form of the recently-deceased Maitlands, Adam (Will Burton) and Barbara (Megan McGinnis) to be exact. The couple exist, in ghostly form, in the home that was once theirs, the home that Lydia’s father, Charles (Jesse Sharp), and “life coach,” Delia (Lexie Dorsett Sharp at Tuesday’s performance), have just purchased. Once Lydia meets and gets friendly with the oh-so-sweet Maitlands, they concoct a plan to scare away Lydia’s dad, but then Beetlejuice arrives on the scene, and things go very, very awry from there.

While Beetlejuice is clearly the story’s villain from the start, it’s hard not to fall in love with every single one of his antics. Collette is perfect in the role, delivering jokes rapid-fire, frequently ad-libbing, and having the most contagious kind of fun in every moment. He plays the role with a dizzyingly frantic energy, vacillating between various voices and styles of humor. From clever stand-up-comedian-style asides to deadpan delivery, he adds something hilarious with every word.

The production itself manages to match his manic energy. Featuring a mix of incredible and practical special effects—with the latter serving as a nice nod to Burton’s original film—the show is packed with visual treats. Walls that shake, lightning-fast costume and color changes, and enormous, spooky sandworms are just a few of many visual spectacles that fill the stage. Over-the-top costumes (William Ivey Long), eye-catching choreography (Connor Gallagher), and intriguing, spooky sets (David Korins) also add constant visual appeal.

And, though there’s always something (or more like a hundred things) to see here, the true beauty is that the story itself never loses its heart or its simplicity. Spirits and demons aside, this sweet script is really about the very human desire for connection and belonging. Mosley’s sarcastic yet tender performance reveals that she understands this well. Her pint-sized Lydia is both strong and vulnerable, and Mosley really knows how to draw out a sentimental moment, without ever allowing it to feel saccharine or inauthentic. She also has a sweet, powerful singing voice—a perfect complement to her character’s nuances—and hits all the right literal and emotional notes in every song. 

The rest of the cast also turns out multilayered performances. Burton’s Adam is wonderfully nerdy and endearingly kind, and he shares an easy, affable chemistry with McGinnis’ Barbara. Likewise, the playful, flirty vibe between real-life-couple, Jesse Sharp and Lexie Dorsett Sharp, as Charles and Delia, adds to the fun.

As is the case with the original film, there’s nothing not to love here. In this production, all the elements combine just right to bring to life (or back to life) something magical. This is one journey to the netherworld you won’t want to miss!

-Susie Potter