Review: HEATHERS THE MUSICAL, The Other Palace - Sept 2022

Photo credit: Pamela Raith (past production image)

If there's one show that can thank its fans for its success, it's Heathers, and everyone thrives because of it. Thanks to an Off-Broadway production years ago, fans here in the UK begged producers to bring Heathers overseas and now, with a brand-new cast at The Other Palace, it isn't going anywhere fast! This over-the-top blast (we're sorry) from the past is everything the fandom could have wished for and more.

Before the show even starts, you can see masses of vivid reds, greens and yellows in the audience; testament to this show’s dedicate and passionate fanbase. The Other Palace has become a safe space for expressing love for this musical that has resonated with teenagers everywhere, thanks to its comedic and hyperbolic approach to the typical high school teen drama, just with several murders thrown in the mix!

Leading the new cast is Erin Caldwell as Veronica, and she's clearly having the time of her life already. She embraces the nonsense that Heathers can reach with a full commitment to heightened physical comedy and her voice is incredibly professional, delivering an incredible rendition of ‘I Say No’ and making her own individual mark on Heathers history. Her joy as Veronica is infectious, creating a cycle of energy in the room that allows the atmosphere to thrive. Acting opposite her, Nathanael Landskroner offers a worthy addition to the JD hall of fame and the chemistry between him and Erin is wonderful.

What stood out to us this time around was that this show is so self-aware. Knowing exactly what it is truly allows it to succeed. It's as if you're watching a comic book come to life. With the hyper vivid colours in David Shields’ costumes and scenery and the blocks of bold colour in Ben Cracknell’s lighting design, it's impossible not to leave all your critical thinking at the door and just enjoy the rollercoaster of a story. The cast are having fun, and you will as well.

While the story may be exaggerated, it does well as a cautionary tale for its teenage fans, as it never talks down to its audience and uses humour they understand and can connect with, to convey its message to "just be seventeen" and enjoy being young in a world that forces us to grow old all too soon.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

Heathers is currently booking at The Other Palace until 19 February 2023, with tickets available here.