May 29, 20245 min read

Review: Heathers (@SohoPlace)

Review by Daz Gale

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When Heathers wrapped up its lengthy run at The Other Palace last year, we were told “I can’t promise no more Heathers” and sure enough it has come back from the dead once more, returning to the West End for a short stint at @SohoPlace ahead of another extensive UK tour. Would a new cast and a different theatre bring something fresh to the musical that has opened and closed more times than 2.22 in recent years or would it be a case of a dead show walking?

Based on the 1989 movie, the stage musical adaptation of Heathers began life in 2009, making it to Off-Broadway in 2014. It found greater success when it moved to London in 2018, enjoying two runs at The Other Palace as well as two West End runs at Theatre Royal Haymarket and two UK tours. Set at Westerberg High School in the 1980s, it sees outcast Veronica Sawyer become one of the in-crowd when she is taken in by the three titular Heathers. Throw in a plot where she falls in love with the schools newest bad-boy and this could be any school set musical… only this one comes with a killer twist that murders all the competition.

Having reviewed Heathers multiple times before, my thoughts on the show itself are pretty steady so I won’t dwell on it too much. Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s writing weaves a satisfying mix of comedic writing bringing in the classic lines from the movie and adding a few new ones to the mix, all resulting in cheers from an enraptured audience as this cult musical with a small following has steadily grown in the 6 years since its London debut. Equally impressive are Murphy and O’Keefe’s musical numbers – after a case of trial and error, new numbers were added in for its London debut with the show’s now signature and standout number ‘I Say No’ remarkably debuting midway through the first run at The Other Palace.. The result are a collection of consistently fantastic songs that never falters, and have become part of many a musical theatre fans favourites playlist.

What I’d like to do in this review is talk about this particular run instead. While Heathers is set in its way to an extent, the right cast and venue can do wonders for breathing new life into the show, and that is exactly what has happened here, I must admit my last visit to its London run didn’t quite captivate me as much as my previous visits, feeling like it had lost some of its former shine. While it may only have been a few months since it was last seen, it feels reinvigorated and refreshing in its new temporary home of @SohoPlace. With the still relatively new theatre being reconfigured from its usual in the round seating, it feels the right mix of playing in an intimate space like The Other Palace while enjoying the West End sheen it hasn’t seen since its second run at Theatre Royal Haymarket concluded. This feeling is particularly impressive, considering there haven’t been any changes to the set or production in general.

There is one aspect that makes this run of Heathers even better and that is its current cast. They are led by. Jenna Innes, returning to the role of Veronica Sawyer. Having been seen in the role in last year’s UK tour, she now feels even more in-tune with the character than last time. I described her performance last year as “playful” – her portrayal this time around shows growth, resulting in an urgent and captivating portrayal as Jenna finds new depths to the role. Her singing is every bit as spectacular as you would hope, especially in a note-perfect and powerful ‘I Say No’.

Esme Bowdler, Sedona Sky and Daisy Twells don their finest reds, greens and yellows to take on the three Heathers, all thrilling in the roles. Bowdler commands the stage flawlessly as Heather Chandler with her deadpan expressions almost eyeballing the audience a fine addition to the characterisation. Twells is the perfect embodiment of Heather McNamara, bringing the sweetness and struggles of her to life. While Sky showed some great moments and huge potential as Heather Duke, for one reason or another, her big solo number ‘I Will Never Shut Up Again’ lacked the impact it should have. When the three came together though, it was always theatre magic.

Ivan Fernandez Gonzalez and Jason Battersby are the perfect double act as Kurt and Ram, putting their own spin on the tragic jocks with humour and flair. Lucy Sinclair gave a big and bold performance as Ms Fleming, resulting in a storming ‘Shine A Light’. One highlight among this exceptional cast was Amy Miles flawless portrayal of Martha Dunnstock in an effortlessly loveable portrayal. Her big number ‘Kindergarten Boyfriend’ balanced the humour and heartbreak featured in the lyrics with emotion and vocal skills.

There is one performer I have to single out as the undoubted standout of this production and that is Keelan McAuley as Jason ‘JD’ Dean. I have been lucky enough to see some truly incredible performers in Heathers in the last few years, particularly in the role of JD. Keelan is up there with the very best, possibly even topping them all. I can’t remember feeling so enraptured by the character since the first time I witnessed Jamie Muscato take on the dark and difficult character. Keelan tapped in to every intricate character trait of JD with ease, allowing for a gradual unravelling of the character performed with subtlety and immense skill. In a performance I couldn’t take my eyes off of, Keelan has delivered one of the single greatest character performances I have seen this year, with a particularly unhinged ‘Meant To be Yours’ an absolute masterclass in how to perform a number like that. Quite terrifying by the end of it, his acting may well be the best Westerberg High has ever seen and deserves every plaudit going for it.

It can never be underestimated the difference a great atmosphere can make in your enjoyment of a show. This performance not only boasted an attentive and fantastically responsive audience, with the added bonus of former cast members filling the space, it also featured the most unique and unintentionally immersive interval due to the building was evacuated. While thankfully everybody was safe, it did lead to director Andy Fickman kicking off act two with a hilarious speech acknowledging the incident (I posted a video of this speech on my social channels). It just goes to show there is never a dull moment at Heathers.

Speaking of Andy Fickman, his direction remains one of the greatest attributes to Heathers. While the show feels like a well-oiled machine by now, the precise nature to the direction ensures you are always in safe hands, though this productions seeming encouragement to allow cast members to put their own spin on the roles slightly while not losing the very essence of the characters has brought a much needed new energy to the show. Ben Cracknell’s lighting design is always a highlight with Heathers, particularly in the gorgeous way the three Heathers are lit, while Gary Lloyd’s choreography is constantly fabulous.

Heathers is a show I fell in love with when I first saw it in 2018. It has remained a safe and enjoyable piece of theatre in my multiple visits since then but it’s been a fair while since I felt it ever matched those first runs of the show. Something about this run at @SohoPlace has reinvigorated it significantly, bringing back the magic it I haven’t felt in years and making it beautiful. The jewel in its crown is a fantastic cast, particularly in Keelan McAuley’s spellbinding performance elevating this to become what I consider to be an unexpected must-see show this year. You may think you don’t need to see Heathers again but this is one production anyone who has ever loved the show before is sure to love again. Honey, what you waiting for?