In 1988, the American actor Michael Keaton created one of film’s most iconic voices, one that can only be described as the raspy gurgle of someone who’s swallowed a frog and is suppressing a burp.
I’m referring, of course, to the voice of Beetlejuice, the titular poltergeist in Tim Burton’s dark comedy about a recently deceased couple who enlist the help of that wacko “bio-exorcist” to scare away their home’s new owners.
Keaton never gave much thought to the voice when creating the role. Burton hadn’t provided him with any notes on how the character should sound. Neither were there any specific directions in Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren’s screenplay. “I just liked the idea of it,” the Oscar-nominated actor said in an interview last year.
Little did Keaton know when shooting the movie, however, that the voice would not only stick, but be emulated some three decades later in a musical adaptation of “Beetlejuice.”
Except, instead of Keaton’s meagre 17 minutes of screen time, the actor playing Beetlejuice in the musical is onstage for much of the show’s two-and-a-half hours, maintaining that raspy, manic voice throughout, while also belting Eddie Perfect’s pop score (in that voice, no less) and dancing to Connor Gallagher’s goth choreography. And he must do it for eight shows a week.
That actor is currently Justin Collette, the Canadian star of the “Beetlejuice” musical’s North American tour, now running at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre.
The key to nailing “the voice” — and ensuring his own voice isn’t shot every night — is by relaxing into it, he explained. “It’s a metal-punk vocal technique that I use. And as long as you don’t push too hard, you’re safe.”
Collette did a live demonstration over the phone and it was as if Beetlejuice had hijacked our interview. His version of the character sounds like an homage to Keaton’s original, yet somehow uniquely his own.
“It’s a little bit tired this morning,” said Collette, still doing the voice. He was only being modest.
For the New Brunswick native, “Beetlejuice” lives in his bones. He’s been with this touring production for two-and-a-half years. He’s played the title role for nearly 900 performances.
Collette has made a name for himself playing larger-than-life (or death) characters. He made his Broadway debut in 2017 in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “School of Rock — The Musical,” understudying Tony nominee Alex Brightman in the leading role of Dewey Finn, a failed rock star-turned teacher. He later took over the role full-time in 2017.
“Dewey felt like the hardest role ever. You have to sing 13 songs, every other line of dialogue is yours and you’re never offstage except for only two scenes,” Collette said. “And when you’re not performing, it was all about icing your whole body and trying to keep your voice perfect.”
The role of Beetlejuice, however, presents its own set of challenges. One of the most difficult aspects of touring for Collette is acclimatizing to each new city. In Denver, more than 1.5 kilometres above sea level, the show had a stash of oxygen tanks offstage. In Las Vegas, Collette had to adjust to singing in the drier, desert environment.
“In Alabama last week, I had to call out for a bunch of shows because I just was allergic to Alabama, and I could not get my allergies under control,” he added with a chuckle. “My face was just leaking.”
But touring can be rewarding, as well: “It’s been so exciting to do a comedy right now, especially over the last two-and-a-half years — to really get a genuine clock on people’s sensibility, what everybody still thinks is funny and what everybody can agree on,” said Collette. “Every city has its own sense of humour, which I really wasn’t expecting. So part of the fun is learning how to perform and tailor your show to each audience.”
Collette’s path to Broadway was long, winding and somewhat unexpected. He grew up in the town of Riverview, N.B., and did improv throughout high school. After college, he moved to Chicago, trained at the improv theatre company Second City, then returned to Canada, settling in Toronto.
“I did the whole Canadian cycle of what a television actor can do,” he joked. He worked with the comedy troupe Kids in the Hall. He did television commercials. He even appeared in an episode of “Murdoch Mysteries.”
But Collette was itching to do something more. Then, almost prophetically, a casting call for “School of Rock” landed in his agent’s inbox.
He audition for the Broadway production on a Friday at Roy Thomson Hall. The following day, he had received a callback notice and was in New York City by Tuesday to perform for Webber’s team. Then, two months later, Collette received the call every hustling theatre actor wants to hear: that he’d be going to Broadway.
Returning now to Toronto, where Collette spent eight years of his life, feels like a homecoming. The thing he’s looking forward to the most: “Eating as much roti as I can get my hands on,” joked Collette, a self-professed foodie. He also can’t wait to reconnect with old friends. (On Thursdays, after the evening performance of “Beetlejuice,” he’ll be reuniting with his comedy pals Kyle Dooley and Chris Wilson for a series of interactive improv shows at the Comedy Bar.)
“Toronto is where I really honed my ability to be able to perform on a stage,” said Collette. “For years, I used to hustle, make posters and try to fill 100 seats in the Comedy Bar, week after week. So to be back here with ‘Beetlejuice’ is just surreal.”
“Beetlejuice” runs until July 19 at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St. Visit mirvish.com or call 1-800-461-3333 for tickets and more information.
