Guys I really wanna talk about Step Right Up for a second because when I tell you I’m obsessed with this demo song.
First of all the music - for anyone who doesn’t know back in DC act 1 ended with a newly released Beetlejuice transforming the house into a haunted carnival complete with killer clowns that literally tear Maxie Dean limb from limb (you can probably guess why it was taken out). This song takes place in that haunted carnival setting and uses the same circus-like backing music as Broadway still uses when BJ chases them out of the house. It’s fun, chaotic, and the perfect balance of playful and sinister which in my opinion very well mirrors how the musical is the balance between the light-hearted cartoon and the slightly darker movie. This song just encapsulates the “yeah we’re scaring the shit out of you, but we’re having so much fun doing it!!” aspect that I love.
But I especially love the way this song establishes the power dynamic between Beetlejuice and Lydia in their newfound partnership immediately - and Lydia is the one in power. Even better, Beetlejuice gives Lydia the power!! Willingly and enthusiastically!!
In the DC version of the show their friendship was less of a touching comradery and more of a distrusting but mutually beneficial partnership between two very smart and evenly matched individuals. Even in the Broadway version we see this dynamic in Say My Name, each always trying to get the upper hand on the other to prove they are the quicker, wittier one.
That’s why I was so surprised but SO excited to realize that in Step Right Up this changes. After she releases him Beetlejuice immediately shows his gratitude and proves her trust is in the right hands by making this scene all about her.When she released him Lydia gave him what he’d always wanted: the power to roam the living world free and visible after a millennia of being ignored. And so in a show of good faith he gives her what she’s always wanted: the ability to finally make herself visible to the people she felt ignored by.
The entire song is him having the time of his life hyping her up, using his powers to give her the power to get her revenge on the adults of the house but allowing her to do it all herself because he knows what it means to her. His whole first verse in the song is about how the adults should have never underestimated her, because he understands what she’s capable of, and now with his help she’s gonna make them understand too.
And boy are he and Lydia gonna have fun with it.
I really enjoy the Step Right Up demo so much! Epecially that last full minute of the song when it slows down…Seems like it could’ve played out SO well and perfectly on a Broadway stage!
and wish I could’ve seen the DC version of that carnegeddon carnival scene I’m hoping there’s some footage of it somewhere released someday.
At least they kept the music from Step Right Up in the taking over the house scene. Glad it didn’t all go to waste.
Just a thought… would be amazing if they had the DC and Broadway versions alternate throughout the week.
Little moments like these I just love. I mean a lot stuff happens on stage, like you miss a thrown prop, you fumble a line and mess up, you get a flower petal stuck in your mouth and you have to stay in character to get it out…
I love how Alex just “oops forgot my choreo, Imma chill”.
It’s so damn funny!
Here’s Will Blum doing the choreo in GIF form cause Tumblr wants one video per post
This was the clip used in the first video I ever saw of the show so it wasn’t until I’d seen other videos that I realized he oopsed and now it kills me every time! It’s the little shrug that does it for me! Like, “Oops! Oh well. We’ll just wait it out! No biggie!”
I’m glad this post made its way around again. I think about this one a lot lol. He’s such pro in the sense that a first time viewer wouldn’t have a clue he even messed up because his recoveries are always SO flawless!! True pro.
And I personally enjoy his cackle with the spin. His laughing in general makes me giddy lol. It’s that contagious demon happiness
