Belgrade Theatre Coventry – until 23rd September 2023
Reviewed by Amarjeet Singh
5*****
I’m going to get straight to the point, Heathers the Musical is brilliant! Deviously dark and deliciously dynamic, it comes at you like a knockout punch with its opening number ‘Beautiful’. Setting the scene perfectly, no messing around. You know the lay of the land instantly, in a catchy, entertaining ensemble piece which succinctly introduces the students of Westerburg High, and Veronica Sawyer, a brainy teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique – the Heathers. There are the jocks, the nerds, the outcasts, but the place to be is sitting atop the social food chain with the ‘Heathers’, a group of entitled, wealthy and beautiful girls with the same first name: Heather Duke, Heather McNamara, and the ruthless queen bee, Heather Chandler. Veronica morphs into a ‘Heather’ to help survive school, but things take a dark turn after a disastrous party and a meeting with a fellow student named JD, who opens her eyes to the tyranny of the jocks and the cruel clique. Falling in love, they plan to exact their revenge, but JD takes things a little too far.
In Heathers the Musical, writers, Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy have created a multi-layered masterpiece, turning the film into a very witty and relentlessly entertaining piece of musical theatre, whilst also building tension, including twists and turns, to eventually reveal a truly cataclysmic conclusion. With only necessary changes from ‘Heathers’ the film, the musical stays remarkably faithful to, and focusses on, key narrative moments, whilst absolutely smashing it as a performance. Heathers the Musical does not shy away from the films disturbing and troubling themes, such as suicide, sexual coercion, homophobia, bullying and murder, but it handles it well, rounding with the message that ‘we’ll endure it, we’ll survive it … if no one loves me now, someday someone will’.
Incorporating slick direction and choreography from Andy Fickman and Gary Lloyd, O’Keefe and Murphy have created the complete package, with a sublime soundtrack packed with plenty of powerful ballads which stay with you long after the performance has ended, and these effortlessly propel the story forward. Standouts are ‘Seventeen’ and ‘Kindergarten Boyfriend’ as well as the slightly disturbing ‘Our Love is God’. A must see is the rather raunchy but extremely funny ‘Dead Girl Walking’.
Jenna Innes is a powerhouse of a Veronica who cycled gloriously through a whole gambit of teenage emotions. Funny, feisty and with a voice that gives you nothing less than chills, the good kind off course, she narrated Veronica’s journey through a dear diary format and embodied the character with such a preppy likableness. Tom Dickerson took the role of tonight’s JD and was impressive and imposing as the object of Veronica’s affections. His soulful vocals matched Innes’ perfectly.
Alex Woodward and Morgan Jackson were terrific as the two meathead jocks, Ram and Kurt. Truly grotesque in their actions, yet you still laughed at their antics due to the writers balancing a fine line between comedy and some sinister subject matter. Kingsley Morton played Veronica’s best friend Martha beautifully and her rendition of ‘Kindergarten Boyfriend’ may cause you to shed a tear, or two. An amazing ensemble and swing team do an astounding job keeping the energy levels up throughout and the show powering through, so you continuously feel entertained.
But what is Heathers the Musical without the Heathers? Elise Zavou was superb as Heather Duke, belting out ‘I will Never Shut Up Again’ with pure disco vibes. Billie Bowman was divine as Heather McNamara, her haunting version of ‘Lifeboat’ gave me goosebumps, and then there is the queen bee herself, Verity Thompson as Heather Chandler. She was incredible. Fantastic vocals, and razor-sharp, she commanded the stage with ease and was a joy to watch, even though she is a mythic bitch!
Heathers the Musical is the complete package! It’s a no brainer if you are looking for a show to watch which has brilliant songs, a decent storyline, and is astoundingly funny. So why not kick back tonight and go be seventeen.