Heathers: The Musical Review
By Sioph LealGoing into Heathers the Musical, we had never seen the original movie, knew of its plot or heard any of the music. This musical was a treat filled with many surprises, narratively and musically but all of them spectacular.
The stage opens to Westerberg High with social outcast Veronica Sawyer (Jenna Ines) dreams of a time when high school won’t be as hard and of better days. She’s surviving day to day until she can leave for college with her only friend, Martha (Kingsley Morton). One day, she helps the popular cliques, the Heathers, and joins their gang. Veronica’s dreams of popularity instantly come true until the teen rebel J.D. (Jacob Fowler) arrives and teaches her that it might kill to be nobody but it’s murder being a somebody. If you’ve never seen Heathers, you’ll be enthralled and captivated by the unhinged plot that is equal in humour, dark tone and emotionally charged moments with a wickedly funny book and music that will ensure a perfect night at the theatre.
As with any cult hit, moving it to any other medium is a risk but with a great cast, it's hard not to be drawn into the world of the Heathers. Any great musical needs the obvious: songs that will be added to your playlist instantly and voices that will leave you in awe. This touring production of Heathers delivers on all counts. Not only that, but each one of the Heathers delivers on a captivating performance just by their walk. From the moment they are seen on stage, they are given the rock star treatment, which was amplified by our audiences’ cheers.
Leading duo of Veronica (Jenna Innes) and J.D. (Jacob Fowler) were magnificent with every step. Though their romance is dark and not without its murderous consequences, their chemistry, J.D.’s obsession complemented by Fowler’s softness that brought a new light to the troubled J.D. adding a depth and layer to these characters that made them their own. Veronica’s naivety and desperately wanting to see the good in people and in herself was elevated by Innes’ powerhouse voice as she sings “I Say No.” Between the two of them, it wouldn’t be surprising if Innes and Fowler’s had a brilliant stage career ahead of them.
This can’t be a complete review without talking about the actual Heathers. Thompson as the leader of the Heathers was perfection. She oozed the meanness of the cliché popular schoolgirl with every ounce of her being, but in the second act, audiences were able to see a more humorous side of Heather Chandler through Thompson’s characterization. While the story focuses on the mean girl side of the Heathers, Bowman’s Heather McNamara will leave audiences in tears with her solo song. Bowman was able to deliver Heather Mc’s vulnerable and caring side, without it overshadowing the rest of the girls.
With an ensemble cast there can be one or two members that may not match the standard set by the rest of the cast. That is not a problem for this production with every member matching each other’s energy and setting the bar high. The two leads, Jenna Innes and Jacob Fowler carry the show with strong chemistry to match their perfect vocals. Billie Bowman as Heather McNamara is a secret standout, delivering a raw, emotional depth that hits hard during Lifeboat which has an almost desperate plea for help in her soft voice that delivers an emotional gut punch.
Amid all this darkness and death, Kurt Kelly (Alex Woodward) and Ram Sweeney (Morgan Jackson) offer the audiences with comedic relief. The pair are a great duo, lifting any scene they are in with their comedic timing with their almost juvenile like characters. They are a reprieve during the darker moments of the musical and a great addition, giving extra life to the show.
This production of Heathers was almost perfect. From the energy of the whole cast and right down to the set decoration. We had to be picky to find improvements but even in that situation, it was only a few minor things. One of these was the sound volume. Thankfully, we were in the stalls so could hear the cast, but there were times when the music could have easily overpowered the performers. Had the actors not been vocally strong, it could have been a completely different review. Another observation would be from the ensemble. While their vocals were good, there were times when the dancing was out of time in comparison to the Bowman’s Heather Mc. Aside from these small critiques, this production was a treat for the senses.
Heathers the Musical tour is a must see. The cast are spectacular and deliver a fun, dark musical with perfect balance and weighted performances in every aspect. It would not be a surprise to see the two leads in starring roles for other productions, Fowler delivering a softness and passionate performance that you could see in Phantom as the titular character. Every moment is one to remember with impressive staging, a talented cast that give every scene full effort and delivers in every aspect. It is a musical and tour you cannot miss.
Heathers the Musical is at Liverpool Empire Theatre 4th – 8th July.
Full tour locations and dates at https://www.heathersthemusical.com/tour