Beetlejuice Revue to Get Updated

[TubaGeek]

The new show is Beetlejuice's Graveyard Mash-Up, and includes all the original cast, except for Hip and Hop, but adding new characters Cleopatra, in the spirit of the Mummy, and some DJ girl whose name I don't remember, but she's in the spirit of the Phantom of the Opera, complete with mask. Also, four new "ghosts", two male and two female, who are backup dancers.
The feel of the show is similar, but has a dynamic of Beetlejuice trying to fit in the stereotypical and pop songs and the monsters keeping the show going with classic hits. Still has some pyro, and, as you may have noticed, the cast has gone UP from 7 to 11, which is nice.
The things gone from the old show, which I miss, are the costume change (they're always in their rock attire, and that part of the stage now has a large, elaborate phonograph), and, as far as I remember, Danny Elfman's Beetlejuice Theme is oddly absent. I'm hoping it was there, and I just wasn't paying attention.
Also changed is a lack of the Mummy safety spiel, at least at the show I saw, and the show is opened by Beetlejuice, offstage, announcing the monsters before they say his name and make him appear. This also means that his roaming the audience bit didn't happen, which I will miss. Hopefully it'll come back.
Overall, I think the good outweighs the bad (which there's not much of), and am excited to hear reviews from everyone else. I think most hardcore fans may be underwhelmed, but given how quick the switch was, I'm pleased.

 

[Gambit]

From Orlando Attractions:

[video=youtube;POM-XqT8Fl4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POM-XqT8Fl4[/video]

 

[Gambit]

I found the full show on YouTube. Not going to lie, I really love the new high energy show. My only change would be to add some more jokes.

[video=youtube;ZnDBXJ1a83I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnDBXJ1a83I[/video]

 

[AllAroundOrlando]

I found the full show on YouTube. Not going to lie, I really love the new high energy show. My only change would be to add some more jokes.

[video=youtube;ZnDBXJ1a83I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnDBXJ1a83I[/video]

Thanks for posting my video. I was just about to come over here and do it.

I agree, the show needs more Beetle.

Also, not sure how the Royals and What Does The Fox Say will hold up years from now, unless they are easily replaceable.

 

[natespf]

^ Thanks for posting Gambit & thanks for filming AllAroundOrlando! The girl in white is the best part of the show :drool: But it should have more Beetlejuice humor, as you said.

 

[SeventyOne]

Random thoughts, based on only catching one show. Sorry to go all Rusty Scupper but I have a wedding tomorrow.

* Not that the last show had intricate plotting, but the book in this show is lousy. Nothing remotely resembling a plot. Too few jokes. And a couple of weak jokes reused twice ("starts with a 'B' and ends with Juice..."). Also, who is BJ's disembodied voice talking to? Are we supposed to say his name? Oh, wait, the monsters are? Lacked even the threadbare throughline of the old show.

* Other than "Feed My Frankenstein," not a fan of the new music choices*. Not really the iconic stadium rock a show like this needs. And I agree "What Does the Fox Say" and "Royals" will be hopelessly dated by HHN. Songs go on too long, as well. In a 25 minute show, I don't need to hear all of "Smooth Criminal," one verse and chorus, then move on.

* Hate to be that guy, because I'm sure she has friends on here, but Cleo gets three leads--and she just can't sing on a professional level. Pretty girl, sure she's nice, but does not have the voice. Come at me, white knights...

* I like the new ghost dancers' costumes/choreography, but tend to crowd the stage,and also accentuate the fact the singers just can't dance as well as they can.

Honestly, I thought it was a train wreck, needed to be thought through/workshopped more. First misstep by Universal in a while (not counting their parking garages).

* As used in the show I should stress. Love "Ballroom Blitz." But it doesn't work here.

 

[Gambit]

^ Now tell us how you really feel SeventyOne.

 

[Skubersky]

Here's my video:
[video=youtube_share;lQnkUBENPSc]http://youtu.be/lQnkUBENPSc[/video]

I agree with SeventyOne, the crew and cast (with 1 glaring exception) are talented and hard-working, but the musical choices are a mixed bag and the script is straight up awful. Beetlejuice has had his cojones cut off :-(

 

[HalfGlass]

Must say, I really enjoyed the last show for what it was. It definitely needed to be changed a while back, but by having a limited number of characters on stage at the time, you were able to focus songs on characters that made sense, including riffing on great songs (like Frankie's Girl a.k.a. Jessie's Girl). I see so many missed opportunities here. So many characters that are well-known, like Dracula and Wolfman (wouldn't Ozzy's "Bark at the Moon" be perfect?), are so under utilized here. From what I could tell, they also seemed to be the two with the strongest voices.

Too many characters and songs that don't resonate (sorry but "You Shook Me All Night" is just a way better song than "Ballroom Blitz" for this type of show) make this, as someone else said, one of Universal's serious missteps in a while. Sorry to say, but Uni definitely needs better shows and this was a chance to capitalize on that.

 

[natespf]

Here's my video:
[video=youtube_share;lQnkUBENPSc]http://youtu.be/lQnkUBENPSc[/video]

I agree with SeventyOne, the crew and cast (with 1 glaring exception) are talented and hard-working, but the musical choices are a mixed back and the script is straight up awful. Beetlejuice has had his cojones cut off :-(

I did not want to sound overly negative, but I do agree with a lot of points brought up. With a castrated Bettlejuice and mis-matched mash-ups that 1 glaring exception is the best part

There are some good songs, but I can not see any reasoning as to how they were used in the show. All I can say is this show is not for me.

 

[Honor_Knight]

I thought the show was terrible before, but Jesus H. Christ! You would have thought they would have hired singers that could actually SING. Three-fourths of the cast are actually tone deaf. Far too busy a show, now. Dancers are extraneous, songs rushed, zero humor level. Should only appeal to foreign tourists who are starved for entertainment in their own country and don't know any better. Diagon Alley can't come soon enough!

 

[Camza]

Random thoughts, based on only catching one show. Sorry to go all Rusty Scupper but I have a wedding tomorrow.

* Not that the last show had intricate plotting, but the book in this show is lousy. Nothing remotely resembling a plot. Too few jokes. And a couple of weak jokes reused twice ("starts with a 'B' and ends with Juice..."). Also, who is BJ's disembodied voice talking to? Are we supposed to say his name? Oh, wait, the monsters are? Lacked even the threadbare throughline of the old show.

* Other than "Feed My Frankenstein," not a fan of the new music choices*. Not really the iconic stadium rock a show like this needs. And I agree "What Does the Fox Say" and "Royals" will be hopelessly dated by HHN. Songs go on too long, as well. In a 25 minute show, I don't need to hear all of "Smooth Criminal," one verse and chorus, then move on.

* Hate to be that guy, because I'm sure she has friends on here, but Cleo gets three leads--and she just can't sing on a professional level. Pretty girl, sure she's nice, but does not have the voice. Come at me, white knights...

* I like the new ghost dancers' costumes/choreography, but tend to crowd the stage,and also accentuate the fact the singers just can't dance as well as they can.

Honestly, I thought it was a train wreck, needed to be thought through/workshopped more. First misstep by Universal in a while (not counting their parking garages).

* As used in the show I should stress. Love "Ballroom Blitz." But it doesn't work here.

Agree with everything you said. I didn't even like the old show but it was better than this.

 

[l-m-f-a-o]

I do not like this show at all.
The old show was much better! Beetlejuice is barely in the show & why the need to add all those extra cast?
Its just confusing and seemed rushed.

 

[UK-Trigg]

I thought the show was terrible before, but Jesus H. Christ! You would have thought they would have hired singers that could actually SING. Three-fourths of the cast are actually tone deaf. Far too busy a show, now. Dancers are extraneous, songs rushed, zero humor level. Should only appeal to foreign tourists who are starved for entertainment in their own country and don't know any better. Diagon Alley can't come soon enough!

Racist or what ???????

 

[Sleepyhollowstudios]

I was a very big fan of the old show, but I must say that this show exceeds it in every way. Beetlejuice's entrance, the soundtrack, the pacing, the energy, the new characters Fantasia and Cleo, the new backup dancers...it all adds up to a much more fulfilling and exciting stage presentation. The consensus here seems to be that Beetlejuice isn't in the show enough, but I think here is there just the right amount. This way you never tire of his presence. He is still as welcome at the end of the show as he was at the beginning. It's now a well-crafted show and, thanks to the backup dancers, now has some form of visual symmetry. The performers all had a tremendous amount of energy and could certainly hold there own in the vocal department (Cleo might be the weakest singer, but she certainly makes up for it in other areas, and I imagine her vocal performance will improve as she gets used to the material).

So, good job Universal. I think it's a fantastic show. Another home run in my book.

-Andy

 

[UNIrd]

I'll wait to see it live before I judge but thanks for capturing and posting the videos.

 

[SeventyOne]

Must say, I really enjoyed the last show for what it was. It definitely needed to be changed a while back, but by having a limited number of characters on stage at the time, you were able to focus songs on characters that made sense, including riffing on great songs (like Frankie's Girl a.k.a. Jessie's Girl). I see so many missed opportunities here. So many characters that are well-known, like Dracula and Wolfman (wouldn't Ozzy's "Howl at the Moon" be perfect?), are so under utilized here. From what I could tell, they also seemed to be the two with the strongest voices.

Too many characters and songs that don't resonate (sorry but "You Shook Me All Night" is just a way better song than "Ballroom Blitz" for this type of show) make this, as someone else said, one of Universal's serious missteps in a while. Sorry to say, but Uni definitely needs better shows and this was a chance to capitalize on that.

I agree Wolfie and Drac (who seem quite talented) seem to be under-utilized compared to the new faux Monsters High girls. And your point about the songs is what I meant about the plot "through-line." Within the context of the subplot, Dancing in the Dark, Jessie's Girl and Heartbreaker made sense.

Why replace dated songs with even more obscure dated songs? Jessie's Girl is far, far better known than Feed My Frankenstein. Just don't see what the point was.

 

[Victoria]

Love the new show. Very high energy, great singing and dancing.

My favorite part is Drac and Phantasia's mash up at the end. So good.

 

[Gambit]

I think Cleo is by far the weakest part of the show while Phantasia has some serious pipes (pun intended). Other then that and the lack jokes from Bettlejuice, I think the show is a big improvement.

But honestly guys it doesn't really matter to much what we think as long as the crowds like it. And from what I saw today, they were eating it up!

 

[Cwoolboy]

I do like most of the new songs, but ending with Ballroom Blitz......really baffling choice imo. Also, the show needs WAAAY more Beetlejuice. Last I checked it's called Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue, NOT The Universal Monster's Graveyard Revue featuring a special appearance by Beetlejuice. I do agree that the show lacks humor and even the most basic plot. As is, I'm not too impressed by what I'm seeing on the video. Not too sure I'm going to make a point to see this next I'm in the parks. Hope they find a way to fix the problems.