Disclaimer: We received free tickets for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own
If you thought high school was all about passing exams, making friends and deciding what to wear to the school disco, think again! Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is everything, bullying is practically a school subject and being one of the cool kids can have deadly consequences. Heathers the Musical serves up a deliciously dark cocktail of teenage angst, outrageous comedy and very catchy songs.
Based on the cult 1988 film that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, this musical follows Veronica Sawyer (Gerardine Sacdalan), an intelligent but relatively unnoticed teenager who dreams of escaping life on the fringes of the school’s social hierarchy. Her opportunity arrives when she is welcomed into the exclusive circle of the three Heathers: Chandler (Liberty Stottor), Duke (Jessica Ibadin) and McNamara (Lou Henry). With their perfectly coordinated blazers, skirts and socks and their terrifying ability to make or break reputations, these girls make your average playground politics look positively tame!
However, popularity comes at a price, particularly when Veronica meets the mysterious and brooding J.D. (Louis Hearsey). What follows is a rollercoaster of increasingly dark decisions, unexpected twists and some spectacularly questionable teenage judgement.
The cast was absolutely fantastic, bringing plenty of energy and bags of personality to the stage. Gerardine Sacdalan was outstanding as Veronica who serves as the show’s moral compass, finding herself constantly torn between rebellion and innocence. Her voice was powerful and she handled the emotional rollercoaster of the character incredibly well. Louis Hearsey playing JD was equally as good, blending charm and danger in a way that made his scenes both captivating and unpredictable.
The three Heathers work brilliantly together, each bringing a distinct personality to the formidable trio while the supporting cast adds plenty of laughter to a show that includes a lot of dark themes. Kurt (Markus Sodergren) and Ram (Beau Jackson) did a great job as the ‘jocks’, goofing around the stage and spent most of the second half in just their underpants!
The music was great, from the infectious energy of Candy Store to the more emotional Seventeen and Gary Lloyd’s choreography keeps the action moving at a cracking pace. The musical is an interesting mix with wicked humour alongside some much darker themes with bullying, sexuality and mental health issues playing alongside the bright colours and big musical numbers. The story is very funny, but there is a serious message being told too about kindness, acceptance and the consequences of our actions.
This is not a musical for younger children but it is a cracking night out for those who enjoy their theatre with a little bite and is the perfect show to see at Halloween. Heathers the Musical is at The Grand Theatre, Blackpool until Saturday 31st October, click here to book tickets. Tickets start at £18
Photo Credits Pamela Raith
