BEETLEJUICE

Brentwood Performing Arts Group

07.07.10

Tim Burton's fantasy/horror/comedy does not sit well on a small stage. And despite some good ideas, some promising performances and a lot of chutzpah, BPAG's adaptation only fitfully amused or amazed. Not helped by American dialogue in Essex accents. No writing credits on the programme. Your performing licence, if you have one, will stipulate how the creators [Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson, Warren Skaaren] should be acknowledged. If you don't have one, I should have thought you risk legal action against you and the theatre.

Even in 1988, the movies could do wonders; cardboard, a wisp of smoke and a flash of strobe just don't cut it, I'm afraid. Although the illuminated model town was impressive.

Reece Learmouth was the Keaton character [Michael, not Buster] the undead “bio-exorcist” who drives the plot; Michael Gardner was a lively interior designer, and Mark Ballard was Adam Maitland, the unsuccessful ghost who brings in Beetlejuice to save his old home. These three also directed; I couldn't help thinking that a firmer, and more objective, hand might have brought some much needed discipline to the show. I liked Steven Mead's lugubrious janitor, Lloyd Williamson's hoarse Juno and Kristen Brown's sulky, suicidal teen.

The Bicycle number brought a real buzz with it – a little more music would have made the scene changes [more than 20 of them] more bearable. Also hard to bear, for this critic, are self-congratulatory speeches, flash photography in the audience and auditorium chairs on stage ...