Greetings & Salutations,
On the outset you may think Heathers would be similar to Grease . . . set in an American High School with American students who sing and dance but thankfully they are the only similarities! (Can you tell I’m not a Grease fan?) Heathers is so much more than singing and dancing.
Heathers the Musical is like Mean Girls meets Clueless but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say that, as the musical is actually based on the 1989 American black comedy teen film “Heathers” so was a thing way before Regina George and Cher Horowitz. I have seen the 1989 film, however much prefer the musical.
There are some pretty dark scenes and stories in the show including bullying, teen suicide, homophobia and sexual assault, all things which I’m sad to say still exist in our schools and society. They are not afraid to show this on stage, so if any of these subjects trigger you, then watch with caution! It’s not all doom and gloom, I found myself laughing A LOT which was good, and I didn’t find myself clock watching, which is always a good sign, I didn’t really want it to send.
The show revolves around unpopular 17-year-old Veronica Sawyer (Jenna Innes) who is fed up with the torment and bulling from jocks Ram Sweeney (Morgan Jackson) and Kurt Kelly (Alex Woodward) so leaves behind best friend Martha Dunnstock (Kingsley Morton) to befriend The Heathers aka the IT girls of Westerberg High School, Heather Chandler (Verity Thompson), Heather McNamara (Billie Bowman) and Heather Duke (Elise Zavou).
She’s popular for a time, until she meets JD (Jacob Fowler) that’s when things start to turn, and the once nobody Veronica Sawyer starts to become something she’s not, something she hates . . . she becomes a Heather herself! Jacob Fowler plays the role of JD uncomfortably well, he has this way of controlling Veronica which felt so real you forget it’s only a show, and this isn’t actually happening, sensational acting.
Morgan Jackson and Alex Woodward as Ram and Kurt were hilarious throughout the show, and provided a bit of eye candy for the audience, the crowd went wild for them during the curtain call, also Conor McFarlane and Jay Bryce as Ram and Kurt’s Dad were equally hilarious in the opening song of act two.
There are some fantastic songs in this musical, Our Love is God and Dead Girl Walking being two of my favourites, I also loved Billie Bowman’s rendition of Lifeboat. Jenna Innes who plays Veronica Sawyer was absolutely incredible, I was in disbelief a few times that the show was actually live! My fave character was Heather Chandler played by Verity Thompson the biggest BITCH which is why I loved the character, I was transfixed and couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
This is the musicals second national tour, after two record breaking London West End seasons and the way the audience stood on their feed last night for the closing song, I can see this being a success for years to come! Fantastic, I absolutely LOVED it, and really want to see it on the West End next!
Heathers the Musical is at the Theatre Royal Brighton until Saturday 18th March 2023, matinee shows at 2.30pm on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday and evening shows at 7.45pm. Definitely not a PG show, but one I would 100% recommend! Honey what you waitin’ for? Click HERE To book.
“If You Were Happy Every Day Of Your Life You Wouldn’t Be A Human Being. You’d Be A Game-Show Host.”