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Regional Reviews: Raleigh/Durham Beetlejuice Also see Garrett's review of Being Chaka
Beetlejuice (Justin Collette continues to "kill" in the role), a banished ghost in between worlds, hopes to be resurrected by getting a living person to say his name three times. If he succeeds, he can bring his mischievous chaos to the world. He first encounters a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland (the wonderful yet underused Will Burton and Megan McGinnis). They are also in between worlds and stuck in their former home that is newly occupied by father and daughter Charles Deetz (Jesse Sharp returning in the role) and Lydia Deetz (an amazing Madison Mosley) along with "life coach" Delia (a hilarious Lexie Dorsett Sharp). Lydia is mourning the death of her mother and is upset that her father seems to have moved on. When the Maitlands don't live up to Beetlejuice's expectations, he turns to Lydia to say his name three times and bring him into the living world. Justin Collette's portrayal of Beetlejuice is just as strong as ever. He embraces the rude and brash humor with ease and is an instant crowd pleaser. Madison Mosley is a wonder as Lydia. Her rendition of the song "Dead Mom" gives chills. Lexie Dorsett Sharp's portrayal of Delia is a memorable role all her own, reminding this reviewer of the side-splitting Jennifer Coolidge of "The White Lotus" fame. The staging is magically crafted by Alex Timbers, paying loving homage to the film but also being distinctly original. Scenic design by the creative David Korins and fantastic costumes by William Ivey Long dazzle with touches of Tim Burton inspiration. Kenneth Posner's lighting is a standout of the creative work, with hints of green and purple (Beetlejuice's signature colors) throughout. There are, however, times of intense strobe lighting that some audience members may be sensitive to. Peter Nigrini's projection design also adds greatly to the overall aesthetic. The show has impressive special effects and puppetry thanks to Jeremy Chernick and Michael Curry. Joe Dulude II's make-up adds to the surreal characters of the netherworld. Eddie Perfect's music and lyrics are fitting and hilarious as one would hope with the songs of Harry Belafonte making their appropriate appearances. Beetlejuice is a fun and, at times, vulgar romp. Parents should be advised that the stage version is even more extreme than the movie in its content and might be questionable for some youth. There is strong language, sexual innuendo, and imagery that may be scary or intense for some. If you are already a fan of the movie, though, you will enjoy this adaptation. Beetlejuice runs through March 23, 2025, at the Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St. Durham NC. For tickets and information, please visit www.dpacnc.com or the Ticket Center at DPAC in person, or call 919-680-2787. For information on the tour, visit www.beetlejuicebroadway.com. Music and Lyrics: Eddie Perfect Cast: |
