Review: Heathers The Musical – “Well, f*** me gently with a chainsaw!”

Directed by Andy Fickman
Starring Alisa Davidson, Simon Gordon, Maddison Firth

7/10

From a cynical dark celluloid comedy about surviving the social Darwinism of high school to…well…a cynical dark off-Broadway musical comedy about surviving the social Darwinism of high school, this 1988 cult classic has proven itself to be remarkably robust.

In an attempt to survive high school, Veronica (Alisa Davidson) finds herself joining the most popular clique, The Heathers. However, when a transfer student, JD (Simon Gordon), catches her eye, things begin to change. Soon Veronica’s teen angst bullshit has a body count.

You’ve got to love a musical that perfectly combines slushies and nihilism. Heathers the Musical captures the spirit of the original film, albeit adjusted for modern sensibilities. This screen version is a recording from the 2022 live show at The Other Palace theatre in London and is a fairly “no muss no fuss” take on it. The camera work only really intrudes upon the stage in the final conflict, bringing itself in close to Veronica and JD. However, the advantage of that low-key approach is to capture the audience’s enthusiasm. They’re electrified, and that charge filters through to our seats.

It’s an approach embedded throughout the entire production. The stage is well thought out but simple and more of a suggested backdrop than a grandiose vision. However, the staging of the action is hilariously inventive, allowing for a fight sequence and a sex scene to occur during musical numbers. Those numbers are what you’d expect from a musical of the era, solid in their construction, but nothing that would defy gravity. However, the lyrics are sharp, honed by dark humour to a cutting edge. And they’re sung with passion and talent.

Alisa Davidson channels a fair amount of Winona Ryder in her performance but certainly makes it her own. She’s more conflicted, more defensive, and more calculating. She also brings a sassy note to her songs, lurching into a throaty growl with Dead Girl Walking.

J.D., by comparison, has been stripped of Slater’s effortless cool. Honestly, in an era of active shooter drills for primary school, it makes sense to remove some of that romanticism while still conveying the attraction for Veronica. In this Simon Gordon serves the role perfectly, mixing charm, vileness, and tragedy into his portrayal.

The result is an entertaining spectacle buoyed by dark humour and trenchant insight. Heathers the Musical is every bit the quirky off-Broadway nonsense you need.

DAVID O’CONNELL