Beetlejuice The Musical, at Regent Theatre - 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval

So much fun. Eddie is just perfect (bad pun for lead Eddie Perfect) as the smelly old demon Beetlejuice, in the riotous musical of the same name.

Beetlejuice is bemoaning the fact that he is invisible and ignored by all unless he can get a living person to say his name three consecutive times.

He has a devised a plan to achieve just that.

Photos by Michelle Grace Hunder

First up, he is ready and waiting when a nerdy couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, who are on the verge of starting a family, electrocute themselves.

He convinces the recently deceased, who don’t want anyone else in their house, to try to haunt the home where they were literally shocked to death.

In turn, the scheming Beetlejuice offers to help them adjust to the afterlife.

Into the Maitland’s home move Lydia Deetz – who is mourning the death of her mother, Emily and who, like, Beetlejuice feels all alone – her father, Charles and Charles’ lover (and Lydia’s life coach), Delia.

Charles (who doesn’t want to talk about Emily) focuses all his attention on a business venture and Delia, while Lydia just wants to move back to their old home and have her mum back.

Although she is not at all scared of ghosts, this is when – in desperation – she turns to Beetlejuice. Once Lydia speaks his name aloud three times, all hell breaks loose.

With music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, Beetlejuice The Musical is based on the 1988 Tim Burton movie, which starred Michael Keaton as the dishevelled title character.

The musical premiered on Broadway in 2019

Gravely voiced as Beetlejuice, Perfect is a crowd pleaser from the get go. Not only is he strong on the pipes, but he is wonderful at physical comedy. His audience interaction goes down a treat. He, more than any other, makes Beetlejuice The Musical as good as it is.

Talking about being impressed, what a wonderful, powerful, honeyed voice and stage presence Karis Oka has as Lydia Deetz. She commands attention throughout.

Nor is she alone in doing so. Strong vocally, Rob Johnson and Elise McCann manage to make “boring” appealing as the Maitlands, relishing the awkwardness they channel.

Erin Clare is simply a hoot as the ditsy gold digger Delia (think blonde bimbo).

She is matched in impact – in both song and dance – after interval by Angelique Cassimatis as Miss Argentina. The former beauty queen lives in Netherworld, where Lydia has gone to try to connect with her dead mother.

And speaking of Netherworld, Noni McCallum is wickedly funny as Juno, Netherworld’s director of Customs and Processing, with a familial connection and disdain for Beetlejuice.

Tom Wren plays up the clueless dad, Charles Deetz, who is taught a valuable lesson.

In fact, all the talent in the show ramp up the hilarity and high jinks in this off-the-wall musical delight.

I loved the rousing chorus numbers, while the staging, costuming, make-up, lighting and sound ensure it is a treat for all ages.

There are plenty of special moments to savour too. Think giant snake, for starters, and watch out for well-choreographed skulduggery from a surfeit of Beetlejuices and dancing skeletons.

The cartoon-like house, where much of the action takes place, has been well realised in various guises and is eye pleasing.

Directed by Alex Timbers, with musical direction from Anthony Barnhill and choreography by Connor Gallagher, it was an unbridled pleasure to witness the mirth and mayhem inherent in Beetlejuice The Musical at its Australian premiere.

It is playing at Regent Theatre until 3rd August, 2025.