FilmMusicalReview

Heathers: The Musical – UK Cinema Release

Reviewer: Andrew Houghton

Book, Music and Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy

Director: Andy Fickman

Heathers: The Musical has gone from success to success since arriving on UK soil with the upcoming cinema broadcast being just the latest indication that this cult hit is alive as ever. Considering the youthful nature of the show’s core fanbase, recording the production for digital release feels like an intelligent business decision, as well as being an intimate and accessible ‘thank you’ to those fans who catapulted the production to success.

For those who have escaped the hype, Heathers: The Musical is, of course, a loose adaptation of the original 80’s film. The plot points are mostly replicated, following Veronica Sawyer as she navigates the battleground of high school and the fallout of distancing from frenemies The Heathers when she becomes infatuated with J.D. – a brooding new outsider. Where the differences arise are more in tone and theme: the musical targets the more general topic of bullying in place of some more adult material from the film. Furthermore, a camp, quirky and comedic approach replaces the source materials’ more bleak nature.

As Veronica, Ailsa Davidson gives a career-defining performance, paired with vocals to die for, which expertly anchors the production. She truly understands the assignment: offering a complex characterisation which encapsulates Veronica’s endearingly dorky origins, her ambitious streak which sets the story in motion, and the immense emotional conflict sustaining her toxic relationship with JD. Davidson impressively manages to bring nuanced individuality to the iconic role, blending her own style with some of the expected beats fans know and love.

Other performance highlights amongst the killer cast include Vicky Lee Taylor as Ms. Fleming and Teleri Hughes as Heather McNamara. The pair deliver their highlight numbers in tandem, yet each represent significantly contrasting qualities which have brought Heathers: The Musical such success. Lee Taylor is brilliantly camp, fun and eccentric, glossing over the students’ very real turmoil with oblivious, show-stopping humour in Shine A Light. Meanwhile, Hughes stands out for giving a completely grounded and starkly honest performance of teenage insecurity in the lead up to, and throughout, fan-favourite ballad Lifeboat.

As with any recording of a live event, the audience’s unparalleled view comes with the sacrifice of only seeing what the editors choose. Luckily, a lot of smart and creative choices have been made in this instance, which will likely add to the experience of even the most dedicated attendees of the stage show. Occasionally, jarring quick-cuts between slightly mismatched shots do weaken the otherwise high-quality presentation, however these tend to be forgotten with similar speed as the thrilling production plays on.

This filmed release isn’t designed to win over new audiences, so much as celebrate the proven success Heathers: The Musical already has. Recorded across multiple performances at The Other Palace, fans were able to enter a free raffle to sit in for the filming and their excitement is infectious. The opening moments of the broadcast pay homage to the lucky few, who stream into the theatre gleefully donned in their best Heathers cosplay, similar to the impact of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The cult parallel doesn’t stop there, as iconic fan-favourite lines receive raucous reactions throughout the performance. The only element of the recording which feels slightly gratuitous is the repeated, and prolonged, cuts to show the rapturous audience response following each musical number, which can sometimes disrupt immersion in the plot.

The filmed production of Heathers: The Musical is a fantastic act of fan-service; immortalising an outstanding line-up of accomplished stage performers delivering Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s beloved material. Whilst nothing truly compares to live theatre, this might just be the most objectively impressive iteration of Heathers: The Musical you will ever see.

Heathers: The Musicalwill be in UK Cinemas for One Night Only on 28th March

The Reviews Hub Score

Fantastic Fan-Service

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The Reviews Hub - London

The Reviews Hub London is under the editorship of Richard Maguire. The Reviews Hub was set up in 2007. Our mission is to provide the most in-depth, nationwide arts coverage online.

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