“Beetlejuice,” like all stage adaptations of beloved films, faces a fundamental question: How much should the production adhere to the original? In the end, writers Scott Brown and Anthony King decided to use the classic film as more of a loose framework for their take on the story.
Most notably, the musical expands the role of Lydia (Sophia Anne Caruso), a peculiar teen adjusting to life with her father and stepmom. “This musical really centers around this girl who is grieving the loss of her mother, and her father is not dealing with it,” said Alex Brightman, who plays Beetlejuice. “What happens when you don’t deal with that stuff is a monster appears.”
That monster also plays a more active part in the proceedings here, as a devious bond between Beetlejuice and Lydia provides the musical’s central storyline.
The “Beetlejuice” team did numerous makeup tests for Brightman’s idiosyncratic demon, ranging from a slavish re-creation of Michael Keaton’s look in the film to an unrecognizably abstract version. Ultimately, they landed in the middle. “We’re giving everybody something they can latch on to,” Brightman said. “You look at it and you go, ‘I think that’s Beetlejuice.’ But we have our own thing.”
