Review: “Beetlejuice” comes to Broadway Broadway Broadway

In the never-ending saga of movies turned into musical, we end this season by adding to the list “Beelejuice,” the beloved Tim Burton film from 1988. Fans of the film and its titular, black-and-white stripe-wearing ghoul will probably love this adaptation; even though Scott Brown and Anthony King, who wrote the book, have made significant changes in plot, the production as a whole perfectly captures the essence, comedy, and aesthetic of the original.

This is primarily achieved through design. The set, a crooked house that transforms in stages from classic Victorian to hellish haunted house, is designed by David Korins and provides a perfect canvas for the green and purple lights by Kenneth Posner and the creepy projections by Peter Nigrini. The costumes take the signature looks and give them a modern twist; they are designed by William Ivey Long, who despite being accused of sexual assault has still managed to get work on Broadway. Throw in a massive puppet or two by Michael Curry and some scary special effects by Jeremy Chernick and you’ve got a perfect translation of the “Beetlejuice” film to the stage.

Like the film it tells the story of a couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland (Kerry Butler and Rob McClure, who are underutilized) who have recently died and haunt the new occupants of their house: widower Charles (Adam…