STORYHOUSE, CHESTER – UNTIL SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2024
REVIEWED BY MIA BOWEN
4****
The trend of cult teen musicals remains popular with productions such as “Be More Chill“, “Six“, and “Dear Evan Hansen“, however, none delve into adult themes quite like “Heathers“. This musical is based on the cult classic movie Heathers that debuted in 1989. Its darkly comedic tale of high school struggles remains engaging and continues to captivate a large audience of young teenage fans. Similar to its predecessor film, “Heathers: The Musical” is gaining a strong following and is well on its way to achieving a cult status.
Heathers is a dark comedy that follows the story of angst-filled teen, Veronica Sawyer who joins the popular and feared clique at Westerburg High School, comprising three wealthy and beautiful girls – all named Heather. Veronica’s interest is piqued by a new student named Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean, when he confronts bullies on the football team. JD entices Veronica, to become his girlfriend. Unaware, she aligns with him to bring his murderous fantasies to life.
It is important to note that the show deals with themes like suicide, coercive relationships, bullying, date rape, and homophobia. Despite its dark nature, the comedy woven into the storyline helps to keep the overall tone light. There are numerous moments that will make you laugh out loud, often centred around the characters Ram, played by Jason Battersby, and Kurt, played by Ivan Fernandez Gonzalez, who form a dynamic duo, with expert timing for comedy and flawlessly synchronised movements, particularly during their performance of “You’re Welcome“, alongside Jenna Innes who plays Veronica Sawyer.
The whole cast was exceptional, with notable performances from Amy Miles in her West-End debut as Martha Dunnstock, delivering a deeply moving rendition of ‘Kindergarten Boyfriend‘ and Conor McFarlane as Ram’s father, along with Alexander Service as Kurt’s father. Their portrayal of ‘My Dead Gay Son‘ was a standout moment of the evening! Daisy Twells, playing Heather McNamara, nearly brought me to tears with her portrayal in ”Lifeboat”.
Young audiences love this show for a reason – it connects with their intense emotions of adolescence. The new cast brings fresh energy and the production truly shines. It’s no wonder they keep wanting more!