BEETLEJUICE - Pre-Broadway Tryout in DC- Page 9

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 1:11pm

SPOILERS BELOW:

One of the biggest changes between the movie and the stage show is that Beetlejuice being a pervert is both toned WAY up and WAY down in dueling ways. On the one hand, he's a sleazy, bisexual agent of chaos who attempts to seduce both Maitlands, and flirts with or gropes everyone he comes into contact with. On the other hand (and somewhat thankfully) they've dropped the "Beetlejuice is a pedophile" element from the original film. Beetlejuice's interest in Lydia now is both more platonic, akin to their friendship in the TV show, and more literally predatory, as "kill just about everyone" is one of his main drives as a demon.

Act 2 still keeps the demon-wedding, but it's written and staged decidedly as a green-card wedding with copious jokes about how inappropriate a fifteen-year-old marrying a creepy old guy must appear. There's none of the rape subtext from the film (or the outright rape attempt from the shooting script).

[CaseyBrent41]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 1:40pm

Saw this (and the snooze Little Shop) over the weekend. I'm a HUGE BEETLEJUICE fan so I was a little wary about this one. I LOVED IT. I think they did a good job of keeping the "essence" of the movie but making it its own thing. Afterwards I was excited to go home and watch the movie because both are so great! 

I don't know why people keep saying Act One is the act that needs work...Its really act two...the plot gets so convoluted and that Otho character HAS TO GO...Its beyond unnecessary. Also was not crazy about the zaniness of Kerry and Rob. The Maitlands are successful when they're the "straight men" of the movie and I feel like the same rules apply here...When they go "cooky" it doesn't land and is pretty annoying. 

LOVE SOPHIA ANNE CARUSO. What are her Tony Chances?! I assume she'd go lead....She's a frickin star. 

Alex was very good....As an actor I don't know if he EMBODIES characters, but I did enjoy his performance. 

GIVE LESLIE KRITZER A TONY

Design was really great..>There's a projection towards the end that is gasp enducing...at least when I saw it. 

Tighten second act, get rid of that character and sharpen the storytelling and I think this could be a MAJOR BLAST.....

 

 

[Alex M]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 3:46pm

Christoph said:The whole point of Beetlejuice in the film was that he was a bio-exorcist that ghosts call to exorcise the living. In the play, who or what Beetlejuice is and what his goals are change every couple of pages in the script."

This is something I meant to mention in my review. As I said, I think its a good idea to change things from the film but not if it makes the story confusing.

[Broadwayeveryday2]

Posted: 10/29/18 at 5:44pm

CaseyBrent41 said: "Saw this (and the snooze Little Shop) over the weekend.
 


I know this if off-topic. But I saw Little Shop as well and I’d love a more in detail review of your thoughts on it. There’s a separate board about it on this website! 

 

[Hum a tune]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 8:14am

Dear National Theatre Patron:

We are writing to let you know of a schedule change of our Pre-Broadway musical BEETLEJUICE. Based on the technical size of the production, we need to allow for more time to move the show out of the National Theatre and on to Broadway. As a result, we are unable to present the final performance on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 7:30 pm as originally scheduled. We hope you understand and that you will be able to exchange into any of our remaining performances between now and then."
 

My whole family thinks this is bizarre.  They don't go to Broadway until March and School of Rock doesn't close until Jan. 20th.  Even if this is the real reason, I don't see how canceling 1 show at this point in the process will be of benefit.  Has anyone out there heard chatter of a different reason?

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 11:31am

Maybe it has something to do with loading OUT of the National as opposed to loading INTO the Winter Garden. The Beautiful tour is supposed to open nine days after Beetlejuice’s last performance, so maybe they needed an extra day to break down and load out the production to make way for the next show.

[sfs1414]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 11:40am

Or maybe it's not selling well in DC? What were the houses like this past weekend? 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 6:15pm

I got lottery loser tickets for 49

D1 and D3

Is the stage too high or is a good seat?

[CaseyBrent41]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 9:16pm

My friend is in Beautiful and they said they were maybe gonna cancel a first performance cause Beetlejuice wasn't going to be out in time for them to come in...Looks like Beetlejuice decided to be out first. 

[Esther2]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 10:43pm

CaseyBrent41 said: "My friend is in Beautiful and they said they were maybe gonna cancel a first performance cause Beetlejuice wasn't going to be out in time for them to come in...Looks like Beetlejuice decided to be out first."

This is the correct answer.  It doesn't have anything to do with Beetlejuice and its NY opening.  It has everything to do with the next show coming into the National.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 10/30/18 at 11:53pm

Saw this tonight and really loved it, can it use some tightening in the second act, yes but this is a homerun as far as im concerned, not a slave to the movie but gives the audience enough nods to keep them satisfied, and this is a Timbers show through and through, also dont get the hate for Brightman, is his voice perfect, no, is his delivery of every damn joke perfect YES! 

Im wondering how they are going to blow this up for the Winter Garden because i wasnt aware how small the National was. 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 12:11am

Saw just now and really REALLY loved it!

I know the show may be a little clunky in act II (never in act I) but it’s not that problematic too me.

There are many songs, but I liked most of them.

I especially loved the duet between Lidia and Leslie’s character and the Beetlejuice number teaching the Butler and McClure to be scary.

I agree that McClure and Butler are underutilized, but at least Kerry has a solo LOL

Other than this, I think Brightman, Caruso (17??? Are u kidding?) and Leslie are perfection! Tony noms on their way, Leslie may win!

The Day-O number closing act I was madness and perfection.

The set, costumes and lights are top notch, they really bring the essence of the movie in the most theatrical way. That last set was dazzling.

Funny that people complained about ththe Boy Band, I thought it was genius!

As while it was a great night at theater and I think and hope it will be a big broadway hit. It has the visual, the story and the talent to be.

Good one, Mr Timbers.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 10/31/18 at 1:05am

i loved the boy band number just putting that out there 

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 7:26pm

Holy cow. I was going in with no expectations but I went out LOVING it. So much so that I would 100% pay to see it on Broadway. There were some things I didn’t care for (some characters being portrayed way ditzier than they were in the movie and some raunchy scenes that they stretched out for too long), but everything else was incredible. The set design and costumes are worth it alone.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 11:19pm

So not worth it.

Beatlejuice is a "D" for me. Saved from an "F" by the sets and costume. The downside - so much! Weak score. Child ****ing jokes. Butt ****ing jokes. Rape jokes. The worst thing I have seen in years. Worse than PIRATE QUEEN in Chicago years ago. It was so so so so awful. 

The man behind me called his family and told them to cancel their tickets for Saturday next saying it was A MASSIVE FAIL. 

Some performances there. They have a TONY number with a bucket of Beatlejuice characters who come to life and play. That one song was truly a delight. 

One "Beatlejuice" who is black, has his arms ripped off. Felt awfully racially unfortunate to me. A group of black theater goes near me groaned over it and talked a lot about it on the way out.

I felt bad for Alex Timbers.

Even the magic sucks. 

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 11:25pm

NOT A CHANCE. This show is going to cost people at Warner Bros their jobs. Worse than Charlie & Choco Factory and that's tough to accomplish.

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BEETLEJUICE - Pre-Broadway Tryout in DC#62
Posted: 10/15/18 at 8:37am

If the book and score can even approach the set design this will be the biggest hit in years.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 11:30pm

I keep hearing from friends that it's pretty awful. They have singled out the score and Brightman for being especially terrible. I'll catch it when it comes to Broadway, but from everything I've gathered, it sounds like a total misfire. One friend did mention that Carouso has a lovely voice. I've just heard that Brightman spends a whole show shrieking and over acting, which sounds like his performance in School of Rock. They should've hired Tim Minchin to write and star in this.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 11/1/18 at 11:39pm

bmfc1 said: "This one was earned."

As in, the audience members who stood up were paid to do so? 

IT WAS THATTTTTT BAD A SHOW.

If this Beatlejuice takes a broadway house, there is zero justice in the world.

 

 

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 12:35am

NYCblurb said: "bmfc1 said: "This one was earned."

As in, the audience members who stood up were paid to do so?

IT WAS THATTTTTT BAD A SHOW.

If this Beatlejuice takes a broadway house, there is zero justice in the world.

dude we get it you didnt like the show stop already 


"

 

[Daddy Warbucks]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 5:04am

NYCblurb said: "bmfc1 said: "This one was earned."

As in, the audience members who stood up were paid to do so?

IT WAS THATTTTTT BAD A SHOW.

If this Beatlejuice takes a broadway house, there is zero justice in the world."

NYCBlurb = the set designer of another musical this season competing for the Scenic Design Tony? 

Updated On: 11/2/18 at 05:04 AM

[borneback12]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:10am

I know that the posters on this site are prone to extremism - "It was absolutely brilliant" or "It was the worst show ever" - but these negative reactions are ridiculous.  If you want to be critical of the show, then point out what you didn't like and, god help us, what you did.  This is an out of town tryout where the creators are undoubtedly making changes to the show (like, for me, the tone of some of the more serious scenes).  But, come on, we are people who seem to like theater enough to post on this site.  Why is everyone taking such joy in slinging lots of extreme negative comments.  And your  post loses all credibility when you suggest that the show paid audience members to give a standing ovation.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:22am

LightsOut90 said: "i loved the boy band number just putting that out there"

The boy band number, was one of the low points of the show. The upside - it gave all the people of color something to do. I cannot believe the show I saw two nights ago, is 1) three weeks into the run and 2) going to open on Broadway. It is in AWFUL SHAPE.

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:27am

Funny. Sadly no. I imagine set noms will go to these ones for sure:

- Kong

- Tootsie

- Beatlejuice

 

[NYCblurb]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 9:36am

My paying audience members to stand note, was written tongue in cheek you dumb dumb.

I think the notion of converting movie to stage musical must be much harder than people think. I think there have been rich moments every year that I celebrate as passion and story make it to the stage. I too think that movie translation to stage is carried even more heavily by the drive for commerce. When it works, for any idea that makes a musical on Broadway work, I applaud and celebrate and love it to tears. I have seen some shows over the years more than a dozen times. I LOVE BROADWAY.

I adored and honored BLOODY BLOODY from the same director years ago, and think he is incredibly talented. YET...this one is so far from ready for one of the hallowed houses on the Great White Way that I cannot imagine how this happens. Is there nobody behind the scenes saying WE NEED TO RETREAT AND WORK ON THIS MORE - LIKE A LOT MORE? 

Look, the adoring praise this show is getting from some demonstrates there are a panoply of taste represented on here. When some viewers seem to have seen a different show than the one I sat through, I do wonder on taste, or vested interest, etc. 

I think the reviews for this in DC will be a wake up call to rework A LOT or may drive it to postpone the NYC opening. 

I'm a person who celebrates success, and am sad to give the negative opinions on this one. 

 

[Broadwayeveryday2]

Posted: 11/2/18 at 1:38pm

It almost seems to me like the changes have made this show worse rather than better. I enjoyed it when I saw it even if I do believe it needs work, but the negativity here seems kind of unrealistic. And I thought Alex Brightman was a highlight.

It wasn't just me. It seemed like in the start of the run it was getting a lot more praise on this board than it is now. I wonder what they have done to the show to make it receive such negativity, or if people saw something similar to what I saw but thought it was increasingly worse than I did.

I may try and see the show again post-opening but I can't spend a lot of money. How full have the houses been? and do I have a chance at the lottery?