(AD – PRESS NIGHT) HEATHERS THE MUSICAL HULL REVIEW
HULL NEW THEATRE
TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2023 @ 7.30PM
*** 3/5
Is there really anything better than spending a night at the theatre? It’s been over two months since my last visit (and press night) so I’ve definitely missed that excited feeling you get as they dim the lights for the show to start! This week’s show was a show I have seen before so let’s crack on with my Heathers the Musical Hull review.
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS
Having seen the show before, I knew exactly what to expect. In fact, Heathers was the first show I saw after Covid restrictions were lifted fully in 2021. I travelled to Sheffield to see it and haven’t seen it since. I’ll be brutally honest, it’s not my favourite. I enjoy the songs and the cast is always amazing but I’m not the biggest fan of the storyline. However, I’m willing to give most musicals another go so I couldn’t say no to a press night visit!
THE CAST
Yet again, a show where the cast really does carry the show! Jenna Innes as Veronica Sawyer is an absolute delight. Innes’ voice is powerful and she plays Veronica with every emotion: headstrong, dramatic, lustful, defiant. She makes the perfect match with Jacob Fowler as Jason ‘JD’ Dean and their chemistry is off the charts. His vocals are just as strong but he also has a vulnerability to him. I’ve always admired that JD is both the love interest and the villain in the same show and Fowler seems to have mastered that. I’d say he was the star of the show for me.
Next up at the Heathers: Verity Thompson as Chandler, Elise Zavou as Duke, and Billie Bowman as McNamara. This Unholy Trinity (IYKYK) complements each other beautifully, from their harmonies to their look and everything in between. Thompson definitely has that ‘It Girl’ factor about her and I’d say I prefer her character (spoiler alert) when she’s dead! She blends the popular girl aesthetic with tonnes of humour then! Zavou and Bowman bookend head Heather but also get a chance to shine after her death. Both shine in their solos, despite their solos being quite short!
Fellow Westerbergers include Kingsley Morton as Marthan Dunnstock, whose Kindergarten Boyfriend solo is a moment, Alex Woodward as Kurt Kelly and Morgan Jackon as Ram Sweeney. These two provide the most comedic moments as the handsome but dumb jocks at the school. Despite the material being a bit cheesy for my liking, they definitely shine with what they’re given. I also saw Morton in The Addams Family on tour and loved her in that too!
THE MUSIC
Other than the cast, the soundtrack is probably the best thing about Heathers. You’ve got plenty of ballads, upbeat numbers, comedic songs, solos, duets, trios, and ensemble numbers. pretty much every named character in the show gets a chance to shine too, which is always a plus in my book. Fowler’s Freeze Your Brain and Bowman’s Lifeboat were probably my favourite solos but I do love the very dramatic Our Love is God and I Say No.
I don’t know if it’s an issue on the rest of the tour or just in Hull but the sound was a bit all over the place. The orchestra was VERY loud and not every microphone was. The vocalists with louder mics sounded a little screechy yet you could barely hear others, such as Fowler.
THE PRODUCTION
This is where I get serious. My major bugbear with Heathers is the script/plot. Maybe I’m just sensitive but I find several parts quite offensive (such as the eating disorder scene) and not particularly funny. Some of the humour is a bit too on-the-nose for me, and I often found myself rolling my eyes or cringing. I appreciate that it’s set in the 80s but I genuinely think some of the dialogue could be adapted to the 21st century.
The set itself is simple but with many, many moving parts. I personally prefer a simpler set so it doesn’t detract from the performers. I couldn’t remember as much dancing when I saw it previously but this ensemble can really move! The choreography really does sync up with the storyline and lyrics of each song.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I don’t think Heathers will ever be my favourite show, despite its amazing cast and great original music. There’s just something about the plot that doesn’t sit right with me. It’s also had a myriad of problems as a whole production in terms of a lack of swings and alternates as well as a not particularly diverse cast. Personally, I’d love to see more black and Asian people in the show (who says a black Heather Chandler wouldn’t be a smash) and that might change my mind on it being dated.
What I can’t deny are the triple-threat cast members and the vibrant way in which the songs come to life on a stage. One of my favourite parts of the show is that you can tell that the cast is very close. It definitely comes across in their performances!
Whilst my Heather the Musical Hull review isn’t the most positive, I do think that this show has a place in British theatre. It’s incredibly popular with young people and has achieved a cult status, like the film did back in the day. I loved seeing lots of young women dressed up as Heathers and having enthusiasm for the theatre!
If you enjoyed my Heathers the Musical Hull review, check out my other theatre reviews here. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for my stagey trips too.
