Cult classic Heathers the Musical is back on tour following two smash hit West End Seasons, and the audience at Curve was treated to its 200th performance on Tuesday evening.
This dark musical, derived from the original film of the same name, follows the life of Westerberg High’s Veronica Sawyer, played by Jenna Innes, who just wants to fit in.
Innes is a standout performer in this musical – her vocal range is incredible.
The school is ruled by three popular mean girls, the Heathers – Heather Chandler, played by Verity Thompson, Heather Duke, played by Elise Zavou and Heather McNamara, played on Tuesday by Eliza Bowden. The three Heathers played their roles to perfection. Special mention to Verity Thompson who really owned the stage throughout.
When Veronica starts hanging out with the scrunchie-clad Heathers, her fortune changes briefly, until she meets antagonist Jason Dean – ‘J.D.’ played excellently by Jacob Fowler.
After going to a party, where Veronica drinks too much and inadvertently throws up on Heather Chandler, Heather promises to destroy Veronica’s reputation.
Drunken Veronica ends up spending the night with J.D. but decides to go to Heather’s house in the morning to make amends. She jokes to J.D. about spitting in Heather’s drink and he suggests giving her drain cleaner and pours a cup.
Veronica mistakenly gives this to Heather and she dies. J.D. manages to talk Veronica into making it look like a suicide.
After the first murder, J.D. then exacts murderous revenge on Kurt Kelly, played by Alex Woodward, and Ram Sweeney, played by Morgan Jackson after they trick Veronica. Woodward and Jackson are hilarious in their roles as members of the football team at Westerberg High, and continue to be so after their death, making cameo appearances in their pants.
I won’t give too many more spoilers away, suffice to say a fake suicide and a bomb are involved.
All the musical numbers in this show were wonderful, the cast did each and every song justice, but if I had to pick three – Candy Store, Freeze Your Brain and Seventeen were my favourites.
My Dead Gay Son performed by Conor McFarlane, playing Ram’s dad and Jay Bryce, playing Kurt’s dad was also excellent – the audience absolutely loved it and the applause that went up afterwards showed what an impact it had.
The stage set and lighting design is absolutely worth a mention in this show, giving the perfect college backdrop over two levels.
This musical has everything – if you manage to get tickets, you are in for a treat.
This musical is a 14+ and includes strong language and covers themes such as suicide and eating disorders, murder and sexual violence.
Heathers the Musical is at Curve until Saturday 19 August.
Limited tickets available £10-£40
