Heathers The Musical

 

Review by Paul Towers, 15/8/23

Heathers by Kevin Murphy & Laurence O’Keefe

Directed by Andy Fickman

Produced by Bill Kenwright & Paul Taylor-Mills

At Curve til Saturday 19^th August 2023

“a very dark comedy”

Based on the 1989 film of the same name Heathers The Musical follows outsider Veronica Sawyer (Eliza Bowden in her first professional role) as she finds acceptance by the school bullies, The Heathers. Weak willed Heather McNamara (Billie Bowman) and bulimic Heather Duke (Elise Zavou) are in awe of ‘mythic bitch’ Heather Chandler (Verity Thompson). This trio of witches rule Westerberg High School while facilitating the bullying of Veronica’s best friend Martha Dunnstock (Kingsley Morton) by jocks Kurt Kelly (Alex Woodward) and Ram Sweeney (Morgan Jackson). Veronica’s talent for forgery gets her noticed by the Heathers and she is inducted into their inner circle and becomes a pawn for their cruelty.

When one of their ‘japes’ is aimed at Martha mysterious new boy Jason ‘JD’ Dean (Jacob Fowler) chides Veronica for betraying her friend. And thus Veronica is taken down a dark path alongside psychopath JD.

This touring production is big, bold and brassy with an original rock score and outstanding choreography from Gary Lloyd. The set by David Shields is incredibly versatile with a gantry.

This is a very dark comedy that tackles themes like teenage suicide, bullying and sexual assault. As many women will know to their cost school girls are far worse bullies than school boys and in Heathers the oppressed take their ultimate revenge.

Heathers is on at Curve until Saturday 19^th August and then continues touring. While most days have few seats still available there are some £10 seats on some days.

 

www.heathersthemusical.com/tour

www.curveonline.co.uk

www.ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk