It’s Westerbrook Excessive, the place “cliques rule, jocks dominate and all the favored ladies are referred to as Heather.” There’s teen suicide, consuming issues, date rape and highschool bullying round each nook. Into this poisonous combine comes Veronica (Jenna Innes) and a bizarre new child JD (Jacob Fowler) who, within the phrases of the film blurb “provides a physique rely to the teenage angst”.
Whereas not precisely sanitising the story there are shifted plot traces for the sensibilities of a twenty first Century viewers, nevertheless it’s to not the detriment of the story and the straightforward breezy approach that the close to the knuckle themes are tackled is pitch good. The sold-out viewers are fired up from the beginning and hold on each phrase and observe all through.
It rips alongside at a cracking tempo, with little faff and no filler and bulldozes the viewers together with it. All this wouldn’t be attainable with out an excellent solid. Jenna Innes is energy personified, each vocally and in her appearing decisions, her voice is gorgeous all through. So too is Jacob Fowler because the creepy, charismatic, outsider JD. The “lip gloss Gestapo” of the three Heathers: Verity Thompson, Elise Zavou and Billie Bowman are simply glorious. There’s not a weak hyperlink in your complete ensemble and the choreography and vocals are executed with a powerful cleanness from begin to finish.
The easy set is very efficient and it transforms quick and with ease so as to add ambiance to the piece, Ben Cracknell’s lighting is beautiful too.
Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy’s musical adaptation of Daniel Waters movie lacks among the chunk of the gritty unique which was just a few shades darker, and whereas it has a distinct tone to the film, it’s one helluva musical. Standing by itself with its head held excessive.
It could be churlish to nit-pick the variations between the unique film and its musical adaptation, they’re two very completely different beasts, it’s after throughout 30 years because the teen film hit the cinemas and a few adjustments have to be made for a contemporary viewers and for a stage setting. The one and solely fault is that at instances the sound ranges of the band have been a bit too dominating – a tough factor to be with such sturdy voices.
That is in all probability one of the profitable variations of the previous few years. If you will get a ticket, then do your self a favour, don’t hesitate, get one, you’ll be able to thank me later.
Runs till 1 July 2023 | Picture: Pamela Raith
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