As one could guess from just the title, this is not a traditional musical in any sense whatever. It is a loud, propulsive (and sometimes repulsive) showcase for a large cast that must be utterly exhausted after each show.
Why? Because they must interact, perform, sing, dance and do so with wildly crazy stagecraft that moves and “music” that mostly insults the ears with deafeningly noisy “songs” that quickly begin to sound alike, making its 2-hour, 40-minute length seem, well, too much.
But that’s the point. We’re talking about weirdos and ghosts, with a few “real” people (even a Girl Scout) tossed in just for laughs.
The star, Beetlejuice (played by Andrew Kober), is a ghost who works like a demon (ha!), jumping, dancing, singing and sometimes even disappearing. You have to hand it to a guy who can cavort around like that, be in virtually every scene, and still be standing at the end. And smiling, with that ghostly grimace.
Beetlejuice has a human (and living) daughter named Lydia (played by Isabella Esler), who just wants a normal life and maybe a boyfriend. But dad keeps getting in the way and trying to match her up with unsuitable (by her standards) guys. Ah, dads.
Will she get her way, or will he get in hers? Or maybe both? You’ll have to see it for yourself. It has its charms, but mostly, “Beetlejuice” is about noise, constant motion, and some pretty terrific dancing.
But watch out: you’ll be worn out yourself, from the overkill of all that noise and those blinking lights and yelling and screaming.
“Beetlejuice” plays through August 20 at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown.
Shows Aug. 17 at 7:30, Aug. 18 @ 8 p.m, Aug 19 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Aug 20 at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
For tickets: https://www.eventticketscenter.com
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