As previously announced, SixTONES‘ Jesse stars in the musical “Beetlejuice” for the second time, which will take place from May to June in Tokyo and Osaka.
I will write an exclusive review of the musical for Dumpling Box on its first day at the important Nissay Theater in Tokyo!
STORY
The story is about Adam (Ryo Katsuji) and his wife Barbara (Ayu Aika), who lost their lives in an accident and became ghosts, are trying to get rid of Charles (Keigo Yoshino), his girlfriend Delia (Jun Sena) and their daughter Lydia (Miisa Shimizu/Rena Yamazaki), who have moved into their house after death, with the help of bio-exorcist Beetlejuice (Jesse) to help.
Based on Beetlejuiceโs wild advice, Adam and Barbara threaten the residents, but for some reason, Lydia, who can see ghosts, offers to help Adam and his wife with her feelings for her late mother and defiance towards her parents. Lydia tells Charles and Delia about the houseโs ghostly presence and persuades them to give up the house, but on the contrary, they see its value as a natural horned house.
Cornered,ย Lydiaย asksย Beetlejuiceย for help, but Beetlejuice, who is planning to return to life in this world, goes berserk.
STAGE REVIEW
I went to see it the first time they made Beetlejuice in Japan two years ago, so I already knew what the main story was like. Jesse and director Fukuda said this time would be 10 times more fun. When they said it, I thought they were exaggerating, but indeed it was 10 times funnier than the first time!
The story begins at the funeral of Lydia‘s mother (played by Miisha Shimizu, the day I went to). In the song, Lydia expresses her grief over the recent death of her mother and how it has made her feel even more isolated.
Miisha reprises the role of Lydia, and although this time it’s a double cast due to Miisha‘s scheduling problems, I’m glad to have been able to see her version for another year. Miisha‘s voice is absolutely angelicโpure, clear, and emotionally powerful. Every note she sings is filled with raw feeling, making her performance deeply moving and unforgettable. Miisha is undoubtedly a person who will lead the world of musicals in the future.
Then, the scenery changes, and Beetlejuice appears. This year, in โThe Whole โBeing Deadโ Thingโ, Jesse expresses even more emotions, and there are many more improvised parts. One of the improvised parts of the first day was when Beetlejuice specifically said that there was a song he couldn’t sing on the tour, and he would sing it there. And he started singing one of the songs from the musical “Mozart!”, called โBoku koso Musicโ, where one of the group’s members, Taiga Kyomoto, was the lead last year, and Dumpling Box wrote a very detailed report, which you can read here. When he sang this song, the audience screamed.
It was noticeable that Jesse was more relaxed this year, as he had the experience from the previous time. His impromptu parts were definitely 10 times more fun!
The unscripted moments got the biggest laughs from the audience. There were times when the audience was laughing so hard it was hard to hear. Definitely something that only Jesse can pull off!
The story continues at Barbara and Adam‘s house, where they sing the duet โReady, Set, Not Yetโ. In the song, they talk about their fears and hesitation about starting a family and taking the next big steps in life. They want to move forward, but theyโre not quite ready yetโhence the title. This song helps set up their story before they unexpectedly die and become ghosts.
Then, Beetlejuice appears and you can see his excitement about Barbara and Adam dyingโbecause it gives him a new opportunity to cause trouble and maybe finally escape from being invisible to the living. At this time, the book โHandbook for the Recently Deceasedโ makes its first appearance. This time, the book falls in the front row of the audience, causing Beetlejuice to go pick it up there and interact with the audience. One of the unscripted moments in this part is that Beetlejuice said that the book was from Keio University and that if he studied hard, he could become a news anchor like Arashi‘s member Sho Sakurai, and that made the audience laugh a lot. Also, the moment when Beetlejuice was fighting the book in an attempt to burn it at the stake was hilarious.
Later, Charles and Delia, along with Lydia (the Deetz family), go to live at Adam and Barbara‘s house. Lydia sings the passionate song called โDead Momโ, with feelings of sorrow and a slight sense of defiance, showing that sheโs not just heartbroken but also frustrated with the circumstances of her life. Itโs a pivotal moment in the musical, showing Lydiaโs emotional depth and driving much of her character development.
“Fright of Their Lives” is a fun and high-energy number sung by Beetlejuice, Barbara, and Adam. In this song, Beetlejuice convinces them to help him scare away the new living inhabitants of their houseโthe Deetz family. Barbara and Adam reflect on their journey as they have become ghosts and are now facing a completely new reality.
After, Delia, the eccentric and somewhat self-absorbed stepmother of Lydia, tries to connect with her stepdaughter, but itโs clear that their relationship is far from perfect. Delia is attempting to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Lydia, but her approach is awkward, superficial, and out of touch with Lydiaโs emotional needs. Delia sings about her desire to “fix” things and be a better mother figure, but her actions and words come off as disconnected and shallow.
Then Beetlejuice sings “Invisible (Reprise)”, which is sung in a sarcastic and energetic tone, which is characteristic of Beetlejuiceโs chaotic personality. In this part, Jesse once again demonstrates his vocal ability. Lydia can see Beetlejuice, which makes him very happy, since he is a ghost and no one can see him.
Beetlejuice is trying to convince Lydia to say his name three times in order to summon him fully and gain his help. Adam and Barbara intervene, warning her about the consequences of doing so.
Then, at Deetz‘s house,e a party is held, and after a comical number of all the guests dancing with the power of Beetlejuice, finally Lydia calls Beetlejuice by name three times in a row. Afterwards, Beetlejuice manipulates the house and makes it his own, thus ending the first act.
At the opening of the second act, Lydia is dealing with the aftermath of her dealings with Beetlejuice, and the song she sings represents a darker, more introspective moment for her. The number is unique in that it focuses primarily on Lydia‘s inner emotional turmoil and her struggle with her choices.
Beetlejuice continues to manipulate those around him, using humor and trickery to get what he wants. He wants to be free from his limited existence in the afterlife and attempts to use Lydia and her family to achieve his goals. He makes deals with Lydia, promising her things that seem enticing but are actually self-serving.
Afterward, Barbara and Adam go through their own transformations. While Adam tries to maintain the peace, Barbara embraces her new role as a ghost more fully, taking on a stronger, more proactive role in helping Lydia and dealing with the chaos Beetlejuice has caused.
The consequences of Beetlejuiceโs influence become increasingly dire as the living and the dead worlds start to collide. The danger of being trapped in the afterlife becomes more apparent, especially as characters begin to realize the cost of Beetlejuiceโs manipulation.
Beetlejuice convinces Lydia to make a deal that will allow her to bring her deceased mother back to life. To do so, Lydia has to go to the underworld, where she meets and interacts with the spirits and other supernatural beings, along with her father, Charles.
The journey to the underworld also helps strengthen Lydia‘s relationship with her father. They experience the chaos together, and Charles begins to understand more about Lydiaโs struggles, fears, and desires. While they are both facing something much larger than themselves, it brings them closer together.
As Lydia confronts Beetlejuice, Barbara and Adam intervene to help her, even though they are ghosts. They fight to protect Lydia and stop Beetlejuice from taking control. Their actions symbolize their growth, as they have gone from being passive observers of the supernatural events to active participants trying to save the living world. Beetlejuiceโs power is broken, and he is pulled back into the underworld, unable to manipulate the living world any longer.
Once Beetlejuice is stopped, the balance between the living world and the dead is restored. The supernatural chaos begins to settle down, and the living and dead are once again separate. The characters are able to return to their normal lives, but there is a sense of closure and resolution for them all.
After the end of the second act, the cast comes back on stage to receive applause and show appreciation for the audience, where the cast also received a standing ovation.
Since it was the first show, Jesse said a few words: “We were able to safely finish the first performance. I want to keep messing around for all 50 performances. Thank you very much.”
Every aspect of the production, from the choreography to the set design, was flawlessly executed, creating an immersive experience that transported the audience into a world of vibrant music, breathtaking visuals, and powerful storytelling.
โผFollow Jesse on Instagram!โผ