'Beetlejuice' a delightful death-themed party at Playhouse Square | Theater review

Jan. 13—Look, the holiday season is a hectic time for everyone — the shopping, the parties, the planning for and then — gasp — actually hosting a family gathering. And here in Northeast Ohio during the recent holiday season, we had to add catching AT LEAST one performance of "Hamilton" to our busy list.

Furthermore, "Hamilton" is a masterpiece, a lengthy and complex musical that demands every bit of brain power we have.

Now it's January. Our schedules have eased up, and we are free, should we choose, to kick back and, if not turn off our brains completely, set them to a lower burn.

Enter "Beetlejuice," the stage-musical adaptation of the beloved 1988 movie of the same name from director Tim Burton that stars Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder. The next offering in Playhouse Square's 2022-23 KeyBank Broadway Series, it's running through Jan. 29 in the Connor Palace in downtown Cleveland.

As one of its first Cleveland performances proved, this show is a party. It's a little messy — and more than a bit bawdy — but it's one very sippable cocktail made with a delicious splash of death.

Directed by Alex Timbers ("Moulin Rouge! The Musical"), with music by Eddie Perfect ("King Kong") and a book by Scott Brown ("Castle Rock"), "Beetlejuice" begins with death — the funeral of the mother of the character Winona portrayed in the movie, Lydia Deetz. Lydia is inhabited on stage by newcomer Isabella Esler, who makes us take notice of her gorgeous, butter-smooth singing with the sad-but-lovely opening number, "Prologue: Invisible."

Soon, though, we meet the show's rock-'n'-rollin', green-haired namesake, played with his amp delightfully turned up to 11 by Justin Collette. Collette is fantastic without aping Keaton's performance, which is synonymous with the movie.

This version of the demon trying to trick someone into helping him to join the land of the living doubles as our master of ceremonies and knows full well he's in a show. He remarks about how going with a ballad so early on, as "Beetlejuice" does after a quick rockin' intro, is an unusual choice; at a later point makes a reference to "the source material"; and repeatedly says things to audience members along the lines of, "This guy knows what I'm talking about." This schtick never gets old.

Colette, a sketch/improv comedy veteran who played the lead for a time in the Broadway production of "School of Rock," is so infectious that "Beetlejuice" loses some, well, juice whenever he's not on stage.

As with the movie, the inciting incident is the death of a couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland (Will Burton and Britney Coleman), who remain in their house, as ghosts, even after Lydia's father, Charles (Jesse Sharp) moves in with Lydia. In the musical, his love interest, Delia (Kate Marilley) is not his wife but Lydia's life coach — charged by Charles with pulling her out of the dark cloud in which she's existed since the death of her mother.

In this story, Lydia is desperate to see her mother again, and that's why she gets into otherworldly business with both the Maitlands — who want their house back to themselves but aren't exactly gifted in the art of fright creations — and the ever-scheming Beetlejuice.

The musical — which opened on Broadway in 2019 and closed last month, with a pause and theater change during the novel coronavirus pandemic — makes a lot of defensible changes from the movie, upping the overall energy level in the process. However, some key moments remain, none more noteworthy than the unforgettable scene involving Harry Belafonte's ("Day-O The Banana Boat Song)," which is incredibly fun. The number requires great physical work on the part of the performers, and this cast is up to the challenge.

In general, that the show — nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical — is so consistently engaging is due greatly to the (ahem) spirited choreography of Connor Gallagher ("The Robber Bridegroom") and the eye-catching and entertaining-on-its-own costume design by William Ivey Long ("The Producers").

Most of the best times come courtesy of Collette, although Marilley ("Flying Over Sunset" on Broadway) certainly has her moments as the well-meaning-but-ditzy Delia.

And we're predicting big things ahead for Esler, a recent high school graduate who is even more impressive once you know this is her professional debut. Bringing emotion to the role along with her beautiful voice, she's the perfect Lydia.

"Beetlejuice" isn't perfect. Like many shows, it packs its best stuff into the first act, despite the "It's showtime!" proclamation the lead character makes as the first half comes to a close. And its songs, while serving the story well, aren't likely to stick with you for long.

But it is pretty darned entertaining, all in all.

OK, so you're sold. Well ... here's the thematically appropriate gloomy news: "Beetlejuice" has sold so well that a Playhouse Square says getting tickets together at this point will be difficult.

"Ticket availability is VERY limited for the entire run," a recent news release states. "The best option for many patrons looking to purchase may be to get individual scattered single seats around the theater instead of trying to find a group or pair together. But don't worry — even if you are sitting alone during the show, our Playhouse Square District still has many options for pre- and post-show drinks and snacks so that you can catch up with your group and talk about the show before and after the performance!"

Whether you long ago bought tickets or are willing to go the solo route, get ready to kick back and wild trip into the Netherworld. This show is a wonderfully demonic post-holidays gift.

'Beetlejuice'

Continues through Jan. 29 at Playhouse Square's Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. For tickets, $25 to $125, call 216-241-6000 or visit PlayhouseSquare.org.