Review: HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, The Alexandra Birmingham - Tour
Photo credit: Pamela Raith
Safe to say, Heathers has quite the cult following. We entered The Alexandra in Birmingham last night to see an audience rich with diversity, peppered with red scrunchies and cosplay. We were in a room full of people who felt "othered" at some point or another and were ready to watch a musical in which they (and we) could feel seen.
Veronica Sawyer enters her senior year low in the social pecking order at Westberg High School. Seeking to gain a few rungs on the social ladder, she trades her ability to forge signatures and handwriting to sit at the lunch table of the most popular girls in school - The Heathers.
Heather Chandler wears red, Heather Duke wears green and Heather McNamara wears yellow, and as the year is 1989, they each have the appropriate scrunchy, ribbon or bow on top of their glistening crown of hair. If Veronica wants to sit with the cool kids, she must first look like a cool kid. One seamless quick change later and Veronica is now matching the Heathers, only in blue.
Losing herself in her new found popularity, Veronica realises that her attempt at an easier, more comfortable life involves being mean to those around her, even those she once called friends. Enter Jason 'JD' Dean, the mysterious transfer and soon to be love interest, dressed head to toe in black. He reminds Veronica of who she is and how she differs from the people she bribed to call friends. JD wants to free the school of the popular kids and with Veronica’s ability to forge other people’s handwriting, they can make it look like suicide.
For us, this production slightly misses the mark. Heathers is about inclusivity, authenticity and giving the mic to those who aren't given the opportunity to speak. This message is heavily diluted because the cast do not necessarily reflect the medley of people whom we sat amongst in the audience.
Jenna Innes is charming in the role of Veronica Sawyer and has an air of Winona Ryder who originated the role in the 1989 film of which the musical is based. Her effortless vocals soar, sending the occasional tingle down one’s spine. JD, played by Jacob Fowler, took us right back to high school and reminds us of our teenage crushes. His nonchalant air hides a belly of passion and pain. Make no mistake, JD is a misanthropist, yet Fowler’s delivery is disarming to the point where he could say jump and the audience would simply ask "how high?".
Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe have delivered an excellent book full of witty one liners. They take you to the edge of your seat as they almost trivialise hard hitting subjects such as eating disorders, date rape and school shootings. Do not be deceived by the bright poppy colours; this musical is dark and yet filled with undeniably catchy tunes.
Will Joy's music direction is sharp and aggressive and compliented beautifully by Gary Lloyd’s bold, nuanced and energetic choreography. Whether it be your first venture to Heathers or your tenth, you are guaranteed to have a good time.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Alanna Boden
Heathers the Musical plays at The Alexandra until 20 May before continuing its UK tour. To book tickets for select touring venues, please click here.