Show: Heathers the Musical
Society: New Wimbledon Theatre (professional)
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre. 93 The Broadway, London SW19 1QG
Credits: BOOK, MUSIC, AND LYRICS by KEVIN MURPHY and LAURENCE O'KEEFE
Type: Sardines
Author: Aimee Collins
Performance Date: 02/11/2021
Heathers
Aimee Collins | 07 Nov 2021 13:29pm
Photos: Pamela Raith
Teenage angst, murder and love…
Based on the 1988 film ‘Heathers’, this musical’s dark story line, with 3 brutal teenage murders and a tragic suicide, is a show full of great comedic moments, strong characterisation and cracking vocals!
Leading lady, Rebecca Wickes, commands the stage as Veronica Sawyer and pulls the audience into her journey as a teenager craving love, a desire to fit in but ultimately, the goal to end the high school ‘war’ and unite her peers.
Wickes is one to watch, with incredible vocals! Her portrayal of Veronica is captivating and she brilliantly conveys that awful teenage angst that we all remember so well as she battles a desire for popularity, the intoxication of her first love (and his monstrous acts) and her true self. Although she gets lost along the way, fabricating suicide notes to cover up the murder of her class mates by love interest JD, all she really wants is to enjoy being ‘Seventeen’.
Liam Doyle and Rory Phelan, a dynamic double act portraying high school ‘jock’ bullies, work perfectly in sync with each other and are another highlight of the show and, spending all the second act in their ‘tighty whities’, they are hard to miss!
The delicate balance between the dark and light in this show is elevated by the memorable and varied score with witty lyrics and rich harmonies, all delivered by an energetic cast. You know a good show when you are singing the songs all the way home.
It is easy see how this show has gained such a cult following, with audience members even turning up in the iconic “Heathers” outfits. The show does an exceptional job of tackling what, on paper, is a horrific tale, and we even find ourselves sympathising with the bullies and murderers.
The show continues to tour the UK for the rest of 2021 and even has a short spell in London from November to February – catch it whilst you can!
- : admin
- : 02/11/2021