“Then there’s the Heathers, they float above it all.”
Dark, witty, and of course “beautiful”, Heathers really captures the heart of dark comedy in a way that makes it stand out from other musicals today. This UK and Ireland touring cast have brought a new take to the script (which many Heathers fans by now could probably recite word for word!) and have made each of the characters their own, allowing the show to go in new directions.
Before we delve into the show itself, it has to be noted that before last night’s performance of Heathers, the passing of Bill Kenwright was announced. Bill Kenwright was one of the producers of Heathers, without whom the show would have never made its way to the UK. Following the bows, Jenna Innes (Veronica Sawyer) gave a speech on behalf of the cast and company, thanking Kenwright for his work and dedication to the show. The final few performances of Heathers shall be dedicated to his memory.
The story follows seventeen year old Veronica Sawyer as she joins the elite trio of Heathers in her attempt to survive high school. Meanwhile, her new relationship with mysterious rebel Jason Dean (JD for short) turns out to be far more dangerous than she could ever imagine. The show covers a lot of mature themes, including murder, suicide, sexual assault, bullying and eating disorders, so caution should be taken before booking tickets if necessary.
In this production, Jenna Innes is absolutely hilarious as Veronica Sawyer, making several bold choices, such as falling through JDs bedroom window in ‘Dead Girl Walking’. She has great comedic delivery throughout. Another highlight is Verity Thompson as the “mythic bitch” herself, Heather Chandler. Thompson has an edge in her portrayal that makes her character truly evil, particularly in the beginning, and yet is also hilarious at many points in the show. Billie Bowman and Elise Zavou are also brilliant as Heather McNamara and Heather Duke, with both of their songs being personal highlights in the show. The vocals of this cast over all are absolutely flawless. I also really enjoy the duo of Alex Woodward and Morgan Jackson as Kurt and Ram. Their characters are so obnoxious, and yet thoroughly entertaining, particularly in the song ‘Our Love Is God’. They both bounce off each other’s energies in every scene they’re in.
The set design by David Shields is rather simple, with much of the set being used in various scenes, however it works well for the show. The lighting design by Ben Cracknell is brilliant, for instance, the lighting transforms the Heathers reveal at the start of act one. This partnered with Dan Samson’s sound design works brilliantly in key moments of the show, including gun shots and other elaborate explosions.
There are only a few days left to catch Heathers at the New Wimbledon Theatre before the run ends on October 28th – and this is not a show to miss! This truly is your “final chance”! Find out more here
{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}
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