Fresh from Broadway with eight Tony Award-nominations, Beetlejuice: The Musical! The Musical! The Musical! makes it Australian premiere. Playing in Melbourne’s historic Regent Theatre, the 1920s venue sets the tone for a macabre fiesta.

Australian arts legend Eddie Perfect stars in the title role of Beetlejuice. The casting was ‘perfect’. As the composer/lyricist of Beetlejuice: The Musical! The Musical! The Musical! on Broadway, he earned a 2019 Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score. (Perfect’s previous credits include work with Baz Luhrmann, Tourism Australia, Kylie Minogue, and Warner Bros Theatricals. He also authored The Beast and Vivid White for Melbourne Theatre Company – two outstanding, darkly comedic plays, which I can personally endorse.)

Now Perfect is at the helm of a 2.5 hour party on stage, playing a raunchy, rowdy undead ghost. As the energetic opening number informs the audience, ‘this is a show about death.’

The theatre production strikes the right balance between honouring Tim Burton’s 1980s cult classic film and gleefully departing from the original source material. The production values are also sky-high. (Or should I say, six feet under?) The set seamlessly transitions from an off-kilter heritage home to a haunted house to the Netherworld, and back again. Fans of the original film will recognise key characters from the movie. Including, but not limited to, a fabulous giant sandworm.

Perfect earned applause the moment he appeared on stage and his charisma is infectious. Staring oppositive, Karis Oka holds her own as depressed teen Lydia Deetz. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, she’s another local we’ll happily claim as our own. Elise McCann and Rob Johnson play uptight couple Barbra and Adam. Erin Claire embodies the eccentric and sensual Delia Deetz; with Tom Wren as father figure Charles Deetz. A full ensemble supports the production, for a contemporary update on the classic musical experience. Across the board, the casting was excellent.

Beetlejuice unleashes the wild imaginations of theatre creatives and takes audiences along for the ride. (The night we attended many patrons got into the theme, dressing up in gothic attire or black and white stripes.) However, the show also has enough heart I found my eyes getting misty at the end.

Don’t miss Beetlejuice: The Musical! The Musical! The Musical! It’s pitch perfect.

– Jenny
Jenny Schmidt is an event adventurer. When she’s not attending live shows, you can find her sampling the latest craft beer or sipping a creative cocktail.
Beetlejuice: The Musical! The Musical! The Musical! now playing at the Regent Theatre through 31 August 2025. 191 Collins Street, Melbourne 3000. Running Time: 2 hours 30min, including 20min interval.
Book tickets now. Wheelchair & Accessible bookings phone: 1300 11 10 11
Images: Michelle Grace Hunder
Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Michael Cassel Group