With the current vogue in musical theatre for jukebox productions and revivals of proven classics, it was good to see a relatively new piece at the Regent Theatre. Heathers does have a pedigree though as it is based on the 1989 film of the same name but the stage adaptation is less than ten years old.
A sensation in the West End where it won the Best New Musical Award in 2019, Heathers already has its own cult following with many in the packed audience wearing High School outfits and the musical numbers bringing whoops of satisfaction.
It is easy to see why this production brings such acclaim. A deeply dark comedy, it examines the depths and dangers of high school life with a pulsating musical score that sweeps the audience along to a joyous outbreak of enthusiasm and hope for the future in a life-affirming finale.
Veronica (Jenna Innes) realises that she will struggle to survive as a senior at Westerberg High – the fact it has two rottweilers on the school crest suggest that life is not easy there – and when she finds that the students are ruled by the three Heathers – Chandler (Verity Thompson), Duke (Elise Zavou) and McNamara (Billie Bowman) – Veronica knows that she must forsake her childhood friend Martha (Kingsley Morton) and ingratiate herself into the ruling clique.
Veronica’s talent for forgery wins the student leaders over but the talent soon becomes a curse as she is forced to play a nasty trick on her former friend. Veronica is also having problems with a couple of boys. Kurt (Alex Woodward) and Ram (Morgan Jackson) both have ideas of Veronica becoming another notch on their bedpost.
As Veronica slides ever deeper into the clutches of the bad set, she meets the mysterious JD (Jacob Fowler) who would seem to be her saviour and it is not long before the pair are sleeping together. Unfortunately, JD leads his lover down a slippery path as he shows her how to be permanently rid of her tormentors.
With forged notes left by the bodies, Westerberg becomes a suicide hotspot and teacher Ms Fleming (Katie Paine) tries to cash in but is Veronica safe? Will her role in the “suicides” be a haunting experience? Will Duke become the new Queen Heather? Will Veronica find that her love with JD is truly God?
This is a high-energy piece of theatre that requires the cast to be at the top of their game. Good to report that the actors and ensemble all step up to the plate with Innes and Fowler having a great stage relationship that allows them to perform their duets with genuine emotion and true vocal talent, Thompson is excellent as the lead female nasty and Woodward and Jackson are perfect as a pair of horny teenage jocks.
The play is not for the faint-hearted as it explores the problems of bullying and the difficulties of trying to be “normal” in the very difficult environment that many teenagers find themselves in. But it has some very genuine comedic moments and the ending is not just feel good – it is feel great.
A musical will win or lose its audience through the quality of its score. Heathers is driven along by some hard-core sound but there are some beautiful contrasts. Our Love Is God is a delightful end to Act 1, Seventeen is a sweet way for Veronica to persuade JD to have a normal relationship and Kindergarten Boyfriend has poignant lyrics that symbolise how love can clear away many obstacles. Add in the sheer joy and vivacity and excellent choreography of My Dead Gay Son and Shine A Light and there is enough to please any musical theatre buff.
This is a great production and all involved graduate with honours.
Heathers continues until Saturday 15th April and has a running time of approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval. For ticket information contact atgtickets.com/stoke
