Beetlejuice The Musical Review – A Wild Ride at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre

I never really connected with the 1988 Beetlejuice film growing up, but after hearing strong reviews of the stage adaptation, I was keen to experience Beetlejuice The Musical, now playing at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. With its blend of dark humour, eye-popping visuals, and high-energy performances, this bold reimagining of Tim Burton’s cult classic proved to be well worth seeing.

RELATED: LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition, Melbourne Museum

The experience begins the moment you step into the theatre. The foyer glows with eerie green and purple lighting, while black floral arrangements line the staircase, instantly setting the tone for the strange and unusual. As the original Beetlejuice film soundtrack plays and you make your way to your seat, you can feel a strong buzz of anticipation building throughout the audience.

From the very first scene, it’s clear you are in for a wild and hilarious ride through the afterlife. For those unfamiliar with the story, Beetlejuice centres on Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager grieving the recent loss of her mother. She soon discovers her new home is haunted by a recently deceased couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland, along with the mischievous and unpredictable demon Beetlejuice. At its core, the musical explores themes of death, grief, family, and identity, with Lydia’s emotional journey providing the show’s heart.

Beetlejuice The Musical delivers bold, unfiltered, and laugh-out-loud humour that’s perfect for teens aged 14 and up, as well as adults. I wouldn’t recommend it to younger children, as it tackles mature themes like grief, death, suicide, and loss, and includes strong language, sexual innuendo, and dark, edgy humour that may not be appropriate for all viewers.

RELATED: Ultimate Playground Guide for Kids in Melbourne

We didn’t get to see Eddie Perfect in the title role, but his understudy James Haxby was phenomenal, hilarious, high-energy, and perfectly unhinged. Karis Oka gave a standout performance as Lydia Deetz, bringing emotional depth. Elise McCann and Rob Johnson were delightfully quirky as Barbara and Adam Maitland, while Erin Clare stole scenes as Delia Deetz with her spot-on comedic delivery. Tom Wren was also strong as Charles Deetz.

The show delivers a rich visual experience from start to finish. Michael Curry’s puppetry is spectacular, Kenneth Posner’s lighting design is bold and vibrant, and Peter Nigrini’s projections cleverly enhance the chaotic world on stage. The special effects, illusions, and set transitions are constantly surprising.

Directed by Alex Timbers, with music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, this stage version of Tim Burton’s cult classic is bold, clever, and packed with heart.

Beetlejuice The Musical offers a funny and fast-paced night at the theatre, with plenty to enjoy whether you know the film or not. It’s imaginative, well-performed, and full of quirky charm.

RELATED: 6 Roller Skating Rinks for kids in Melbourne

Important Information: Beetlejuice The Musical

Location: Regent Theatre, Melbourne
Dates: Now playing through until 11 September 2025
Special effects: The production includes significant haze, fog, loud noises and strobe lighting effects.

Beetlejuice The Musical Review – A Wild Ride at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre

RELATED: LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition, Melbourne Museum

RELATED: Ultimate Playground Guide for Kids in Melbourne

RELATED: 6 Roller Skating Rinks for kids in Melbourne

Important Information: Beetlejuice The Musical

Recent Posts

Looking for fun things to do with the kids?

Comments

Add a comment

Leave a Reply · Cancel reply