The universe is random.

Beetlejuice The Musical. The Musical. The Musical.

Jun. 8, 2019 at the Winter Garden Theater

*** 有雷慎入 ***

又是一部從電影改編的音樂劇。這次是隔了30幾年才改編成音樂劇(1988的電影)。為了寫這篇文章，我才發現原來中文把電影翻成《陰間大法師》。不得不說原本的Beetlejuice聽起來親切很多，而且翻成這樣讓我覺得我是不是對Beetlejuice這個角色有什麼誤會。畢竟大法師應該是負責除魔的，但Beetlejuice應該是那個魔鬼啊。不知道電影的中文字幕是怎麼稱呼Beetlejuice的…🤣

一進劇場就被它的夜店風小小嚇到。燈光很昏暗，不太像一般秀開始之前的燈光亮度。加上詭譎的音樂，除了營造出很不錯的恐怖氛圍之外，也有著萬聖節派對的感覺。而這部音樂劇也真的是個派對。音樂風格多元，大部分都是輕快俏皮的節奏。歌詞和台詞裡很多很有趣的對話。最前面Beetlejuice還打破第四牆和觀眾互動讓劇院變很嗨。整部劇把死亡和其他稍微沉重的小主題(像是未成年新娘)，用了詼諧的方式呈現出來。跟鬼有關係的題材也是很好表現百老匯魔法的機會。劇組當然有好好把握，創造出了神奇的火光和空中飄浮！整個舞台設計很色彩繽紛，很有致敬Tim Burton的感覺。

雖然說一開場就告訴大家這是一部關於死亡的秀，但這絕對也是一部關於人生的秀。我覺得特別有意思的是，劇裡各個角色在人生/死亡這條路上的不同階段產生的對比：

• Beetlejuice：一個一直在陰間，從來沒有活過、一般人也看不見的鬼。很想當個人活一次看看。

• Lydia：一個剛失去媽媽，悲傷到覺得了無生趣的小女孩。

• The Maitlands：一對剛因意外死掉的夫婦。死了之後才發現活著的時候有太多事沒有做。

還有其他配角像是爸爸的新女友Delia，還有陰間的鬼魂們，其實都很正面看待短暫的人生(Life is short but death is super long)。而Lydia也在和各個角色互動的過程中，慢慢體認到生命的可貴，對生活有了新的期待。

整部劇的歌實在都很好聽。心情不好的時候聽完整張專輯心情會變好的！我最喜歡的是Delia想要幫Lydia打氣的時候，跟Lydia一起唱的No reason。很無厘頭但又很有趣。一個經歷很多卻仍然選擇正面看待人生的大人，和一個很腹黑的孩子，對於宇宙的運作有完全不同的詮釋。我得說我比較贊成Lydia的觀點，宇宙真的是隨機到沒有道理。不過也許隨機還是可以造成最美麗的意外的。

這個秀現在還有北美巡迴演出。如果有到你附近的城市的話，可以考慮去看看喔。也許宇宙會隨機告訴你什麼秘密！

No reason

https://youtu.be/LBMZ2Y_QGa4

[Delia]

The universe 宇宙

Is more than just space with no end 不只是個無盡的空間

La-la-la-la-la! 啦啦啦啦啦！

Just think of the universe as a female best friend 把宇宙想成閨蜜

And you can be like 然後妳就可以說

"Hey, Universe, what's happening, girl?" "嘿，宇宙，最近發生什麼事？"

And she'll be like 然後她就會說

"Oh, nothing, just running the world" "喔，沒什麼，只是忙著統治世界"

And you'll be like, "What?" 然後妳就說 "什麼？"

And the universe will be like, "I know!" 然後宇宙就會說 "我知道！"

You're on the right track, girl 妳在正確的道路上

I got your back, girl 有我挺妳

I'm helping you grow 我在幫助妳成長

Think positive 正向思考

Act positive 正向行動

You are a child of the Earth! 妳是地球的孩子！

Life-coaching! 生活教練！

Nailing it! 我真棒！

Time to take command 該是時候發號施令

You dictate the hand 由妳來主導

The universe deals 宇宙發給妳的牌

Look 聽著

Science makes no sense 科學才沒有道理

Who needs evidence? 誰需要證據？

Go with your feels 跟著妳的感覺走

I'm like a radio 我就像是個收音機

Tuned to the stars 對準星星

I found my frequency 我找到我的頻率

Crystals speak to me 水晶會跟我說話

[Lydia]

What are they saying? 它們說什麼？

Buy more crystals! 買更多水晶！

Everything, everything happens for a reason 每件事，每件事發生都有個原因

Be a beacon of light in the world 當個世界上的一束光

Put a little "alright" in the world 在世界上放一點"沒關係"

There are spiritual guides above, look up 上面會有精神指引，向上看

And see 'em! 就會看到

Perception is reality 怎麼感覺現實就是如何

Just listen to the melody the universe sings 就聽聽宇宙哼的旋律

'Cause everything, everything happens for a reason 因為每件事，每件事發生都有個原因

Gee, I hate to break it to you 唉，我真的不想跟妳說

The universe is just the contents of time, matter and space 宇宙只是時間、物質、空間的集合

Ninety-one billion light-years across and the Earth's a small place 九百一十億光年的直徑而地球只是個小地方

Where good people die 一個好人會死的地方

No 不

Yeah 對

In famine and wars 死在饑荒和戰亂中

The Pacific Islands are sinking 太平洋上的小島正在下沉

But negative thinking is hardly the cause 但負向思考不太可能是原因

You think life is all unicorns and rainbows 'cause you're bored 妳覺得生活都像獨角獸和彩虹因為妳生活太無聊

And positivity is a luxury that few can afford 而正向思考是很少人能夠擁有的奢侈品

We're gonna die 我們會死

Yes, you and I 對，你和我

Meaninglessness and alone 死得沒有意義又孤伶伶

No, no, no! No! 不，不，不！不！

One day you may wake up alone 有一天妳會孤單醒來

Okay? 所以？

'Cause your husband and his boyfriend brought a boat 因為妳老公和他男朋友買了一艘船

And then they sailed away to Rome 然後航向羅馬

That's specific 這好具體

So you cry yourself to sleep in deep despair 所以妳極度憂鬱哭到睡著

Talking to the walls 'cause there's no one there 跟牆說話因為沒有其他人陪妳

And you have to buy a cat 然後妳必須買一隻貓

'Cause that's your last chance to have a family 因為那是妳最後有個家庭的機會

Take it from me! 聽我的

That your aging ass will have to believe that 妳變老中的屁股必須相信

Everything, everything happens for a reason 每件事，每件事發生都有個原因

Put some more fun in the world 在世界上放一些樂趣

A little "I am still young" in the world 在世界上放一點 "我還年輕"

Be prepared to take your eggs and freeze 'em 做好準備把妳的卵拿出來冷凍

Is this still about me? 這還是在說我嗎？

'Cause everything, everything happens 因為每件事，每件事發生

Sounds like terrible things can happen 聽起來可怕的事會發生

Because the universe is random 因為宇宙很隨機

Yes, but 對，但是

Random for a reason! 隨機但有個原因！

No reason! 沒有原因！

*** Spoiler alert ***

Another musical adapted from a movie. This time it took 30+ years to make the musical happen (Movie was released in 1988). I have to say that the Chinese title for the movie is confusing. It is along the lines of "The Exorcist", which should be referring to a person that expels demons. But in this case Beetlejuice is the demon?? Anyways...

I was a little surprised by the night club vibe in the theater when I first got in. It was pretty dark, much darker than the typical lighting before a show starts. With the eerie music playing in the background, it totally gave out the spooky feel but it also felt like a Halloween party. And this show is indeed a party! The music styles are diverse, most of the music being fast-paced and playful. The lyrics and the book have many hilarious dialogues. At the beginning of the show, Beetlejuice even breaks the fourth wall to engage the audience and gives it a total party vibe. I liked that the show is able to explore death and other slightly heavy subjects (like underage bride) in a fun and humorous way. With ghosts involved, it should also be a good opportunity to show some Broadway magic tricks, and the production did just that. I still can't figure out how they created the fire sparks and made the actors float in the air on stage! The stage design was also great and was very colorful, which sort of captured the Tim Burton spirit.

Although it is told to the audience that this is a show about death, it is no doubt also a show about living. One thing I find particularly interesting is the contrast created by the characters because of the different stages they are in on the path of life/death:

• Beetlejuice: A demon that has been in the Netherworld the entire time, never lived, and that no ordinary living people can see. He really wants to become alive and live once.

• Lydia: A girl who just lost her mom and so sad that she finds no meaning in life anymore.

• The Maitlands: A married couple who just died of an accident and realized the many things they didn't do when they were still alive.

And the other characters like the Dad's new girlfriend Delia, and the ghosts in the Netherworld, actually all look at the short life of a person in a positive light (Life is short but death is super long). Lydia, through the interactions with the others, also gradually learns to appreciate the precious life she has and starts to regain hope.

Every song in this show is good! If you are down, try listening to the original Broadway cast album. It should help. The song I like the most from the show is the one when Delia is trying to cheer Lydia up, and they sing the duet No reason. It is silly but also funny. An adult who has been through a lot but still chooses to face life positively, and a gloomy, maybe even cynical girl, hold entirely opposite opinions about the universe. I have to say I agree with Lydia more that the universe is random for no reason. But maybe things can still be randomly beautiful.

This production is still on tour in North America. If it comes to a city near you, go see it. Maybe the random universe will tell you some secrets!