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Heathers the Musical is on tour and you can join the students at Westerberg High in Manchester this summer!
The musical is an adaptation of the 1980s film of the same name starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. It became a cult hit movie and now so is this musical!
Don’t forget to read my review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical
High School is hell
Veronica Sawyer is a nobody who becomes a somebody after joining the most popular girls in Westerberg, the Heathers. They are the idea of perfection to the high school population with the most power and meanest reputation.
But when new kid JD arrives, Veronica is drawn in by his quiet mystery. Together they start killing off the bullies in school with a series of fake suicides. But things get sketchy when she realises, he’s more into it than her.
Can her guilty conscience save the students from further killings? Or is this the 1980s resurrection of Bonnie and Clyde?
There are several trigger warnings including murder, suicide, sexual violence and eating disorders.
High School on MDMA
Even though the topics are heavy, this is not a serious drama. It is a dark comedy. Very dark in fact. It mocks teenage angst in the most severe way but somehow retains humour! Properly camp and a little deranged, Heathers amplifies high school life to the maximum.
And it’s this that makes it relatable and likely the cult hit it has become. We’ve all been those misfits or popular kids. Dealt with deep shame, anxiety and/or sheer panic during our teen years. Probably even into adulthood. We all hoped that life was more beautiful after the hardship of high school didn’t we?
But what really catapults this musical into stardom is the soundtrack. It’s a glorious mixtape of rock and pop that is as catchy as it is witty.
Heathers is my most listened to soundtrack on Spotify so I could name all of them as bangers but my outright favourites are ’Dead Girl Walking’ and ‘I say No’. The opening number ‘Beautiful’ is always a treat as it sets the scene with vigour and vibrancy. There were some sound issues, the band louder than the vocals, but can be forgiven on the opening night!
High School class mates
Jenna Innes (Veronica) has a killer voice. She’s a confident lead with authenticity so you’re in safe hands. Verity Thompson (Heather C) is every bit the ‘mythic bitch’ you want her to be. From her fierce movements, sour face and powerful vocals. She is perfection.
Jacob Fowler (JD) is delightfully creepy and unhinged. In contrast, Alex Woodward (Kurt) and Morgan Jackson (Ram) play the dumb, testosterone filled jocks with ‘big fun’. The cast really is wowing. The massive standing ovation was well deserved.
Heathers the Musical is an addiction. It’s brutally good! Get on the hype whilst it’s in town.
Playing at Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday 12 August 2023.
Image credit: Pamela Raith