There’s a creepy, twisted, shadowy show full of all sorts of hilarity and delightful surprises, and it has jumped out and sprung up at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne. It’s Beetlejuice the Musical, and you’re in for a spine-tingling treat!
Based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film that has become a cult classic, the movie has been brought to life on stage by Melbourne’s own Eddie Perfect. The singer, songwriter, comedian, actor and playwright started writing this musical’s score in 2014. Scott Brown and Anthony King added the story and script to complete this unpredictable blast of a production. Alex Timbers directed and Alex Brightman took the lead role at the premiere in Washington in 2018, opening on Broadway in 2019.
With this golden group of creatives, Eddie Perfect was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Original Score, while the writers were nominated for Best Book of a Musical. What a wondrous gift for Perfect to bring his brilliant music and clever lyrics back to his hometown and actually play Beetlejuice himself in this witty, satirical production.
Beetlejuice the Musical has exploded onto the Melbourne stage with a supernatural jolt of energy. This highly anticipated Australian premiere delivers an evening that’s both hilarious and heartfelt. Set in a spooky, chaotic world where dark humour thrives, the show cleverly explores themes of identity and staying true to oneself. After all, it’s often in the wildest mayhem that we discover who we really are.
The story begins with 16-year-old Lydia Deetz (Karis Oka) at her mother’s funeral, heartbroken. Suddenly, the rude and raucous ghost Beetlejuice bursts in. The crowd goes wild and the chaos begins. Meanwhile, Barbara and Adam Maitland (Elise McCann and Rob Johnson), a straight-laced couple, accidentally electrocute themselves and become ghosts, trapped in their suburban home.
Unaware the house is haunted, Lydia and her father Charles (Tom Wren) move in with his eccentric fiancée, Delia (Erin Clare), hoping to build a new estate. But the Maitlands want their home back. Lydia, unhappy with the move, agrees to help scare her family away. Together, they summon Beetlejuice for help. But Beetlejuice has his own plans. Desperate to escape the Netherworld, he sees this as his chance to re-join the living. What he really wants is chaos, attention, and maybe even a little companionship.
What follows is a wild ride through life, death, and a very unwanted marriage proposal. As Lydia navigates trickery and the supernatural, she’s forced to confront her grief, hold onto her identity, and find a new sense of home among the living and the dead.
There’s no doubt that Eddie Perfect’s take on Beetlejuice brings fresh warmth, zest, and energy to the iconic character. While Michael Keaton’s film portrayal leans heavily into sleazy, obnoxious chaos that leaves you feeling unsettled, Perfect’s version makes you love to hate him. He adds a surprising dash of heart to the outrageousness.
Still grimy, inappropriate, and manipulative, this Beetlejuice is also irresistibly fun. You’ll laugh with him, be thrilled by his antics, and likely cheer him on. With impeccable comedic timing and superb musicality, Eddie Perfect ignites the stage with magnetic charm.
If anyone could lift a musical from the depths of hell to the heights of heaven, it’s Karis Oka. Her portrayal of Lydia Deetz is superb. We feel every emotion as she navigates the weird and wonderful. She races through the Netherworld and charms us with her quirky gothic vibes and powerhouse vocals. Oka is unforgettable, commanding the stage with strength, charisma, and non-stop energy from start to finish.
As Beetlejuice and Lydia, Perfect and Oka are a delightfully mismatched duo, sharing a kookiness that’s irresistibly fun to watch. Their dynamic is as oddly satisfying as the iconic moment when butter and Vegemite ooze through the holes of a Salada cracker—unexpected, a little messy, and completely enjoyable.
The entire cast and crew of Beetlejuice the Musical should be proud of this wildly impressive production. As Barbara, Elise McCann is an unstoppable vocal force, captivating the audience with her vibrant and expressive singing.
Alongside the highly talented Rob Johnson as Adam Maitland, they add to the supernatural nuttiness of the production. While the pair initially seem mundane and reserved, their sharp performances reveal them as hilarious, endearing, and full of confidence and sincerity.
Erin Clare is such fun as Delia Deetz. You’ll look forward to what she may do every time she appears on stage. Her fabulous characterisation and strong vocals give her many memorable moments.
Tom Wren’s straight-laced delivery of Charles Deetz earns him many belly laughs from the audience. But his ability to give warmth to his character at a pivotal moment really shifts the entire production. Wren does this with presence and grace, revealing his emotions in order to create a pause that grounds the madness and chaos within the show. It’s charming and soulful.
Special mention must go to Rebecca Ordiz, who opens Act Two with a show-stopping number that originally went viral on TikTok. Her portrayal of the sweet, innocent Girl Scout Skye is a standout moment. She earns loud applause as her bright-eyed optimism hilariously contrasts with the dark and macabre duet between Beetlejuice and Lydia. It’s a burst of unexpected fun and a true highlight of the show.
Noni McCallum is also notable as Maxine/Juno, truly shining with a smouldering, greasy type of pleasure.
Other standout moments include the inventive use of puppets which see giant hands, a monster-sized carnivorous sandworm and a singing roasted pig come to life. Harry the Hunter with his shrunken head also makes a cameo, as well as Beetlejuice’s comedic skeletal entourage.
The cast dances up a storm together during the Banana Boat Song where the dinner party guests are possessed with all sorts of wackiness. Other favourite musical numbers include ‘Dead Mom’ featuring those mesmerising vocals and ‘Creepy Old Guy’ serving up the humour as the ‘new’ family come together.
Everything in this production is crisp, sharp and colourful. Special effects also add to the creation of this warped world. Walking out of the theatre, you’ll feel goosebumps rise as if spiders have danced across your skin. Not from fear, but from an unexpectedly strange and joyful thrill.
You don’t need to be a fan of the movies to enjoy the Beetlejuice the Musical. But if you are, it’s a bonus. Go for the fun and the laughter, bring your friends, and buckle in for a wild, ghostly ride packed with adrenaline and heart. Sometimes, in the weirdest of places, we find home. In chaos, we discover where we belong.
Go see Beetlejuice the Musical. Go, simply, to be inspired.
Beetlejuice the Musical runs until 11 September 2025 at the Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street Melbourne.
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=BEETLEJ25
Website: https://beetlejuicethemusical.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/beetlejuiceaus/
Photo credits: Michelle Grace Hunder
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3 responses to “Review: Beetlejuice Brings the Chaos in a Spirited Spectacle”
Wonderfully expressed and as someone who also saw and loved the opening, very accurate review, EXCEPT that it is not Harry, but BOB The Shrunken Head Hunter! Then again, a dead Bob by any other name would smell as….?
Mate what are you talking about? It was Harry the Hunter. Bob appears in the sequel wearing a distinctive yellow suit. I saw this in Melbourne on opening night and it was clearly Harry. It doesn’t take long to fact check delusions.
Thanks for this review Wendy. Awesome detail. Your review for Lord of the Rings the Musical made me go see it! And we weren’t disappointed, what a ride!
Thanks Johnny for clarifying that, having asked Dr Google, and apologies to Wendy, making it a perfect review. Ironically I was relying on how the cast have named him, particularly Rebecca who is inside him(and the pig) in the show, although they also call him “Shrunky”. I will inform her of the nuances of shrunken-head-hunter nomenclature when I see her again after the show tonight. As perhaps obvious, I haven’t seen the second movie; do you recommend it?