Pelican Productions. Arts Theatre. 13 Sep 2024
Can’t we be seventeen? croon high school sweethearts Veronica and J.D. It’s a reasonable question but considering that they’ve just murdered three people and are contemplating some other pretty macabre deeds, the idea of baking brownies and going bowling is a bit fanciful.
In this musical adaptation of the 1988 movie Heathers, the Americanisation is emphasised, and with that one seems able to remain a step removed from some of the truly appalling actions of the characters; sexism, misogyny and stereotypical gender role playing.
Heathers comes with some serious warnings - explicit language, graphic violence, suicide, sexual violence, fat shaming – and that’s just in the first act! Unfortunately, while it may not be the norm in Australian schools, there are scenes in this show that remind one all too sombrely of the school shootings, violence and student abuses that are occurring all too frequently in U.S. schools. There’s a salient lesson here, but fortunately, in terms of this production, the story is told with humour, albeit dark at times, and some of it is just laugh-aloud funny.
On a set depicting a brick wall (another brick in the…?) topped with an iron framed catwalk, the students of Westerburg High School arrive for the new term. Fresh faced, beautiful healthy bodies, excitement in the air… but it soon becomes clear that there is something noxious in the air, and this is exemplified by the entrance of the ruling clique, the Heathers - Heather Chandler, Heather Duke and Heather McNamara, played respectively by Taylor Schwartz, Emma Pool and Abi Sharp. These are vicious young women, bullies of the first order, and heavy-set Martha (Juliette Keir) is just one of the many to feel their wrath. Martha’s best friend Veronica (Lluka Wadey) is determined not to be a victim, so introduces the Heathers to her forging skill (hall passes, sick notes, whatever you need) and is soon inducted as the fourth group member.
Enter the enigmatic Jason Dean aka J.D (Alek Kudra), the Baudelaire reading newcomer, who beats up the jocks Kurt (Ewan Pugh) and Ram (Jack Keukenmeester) and Veronica’s heart is won. What follows is an all-singing, all-dancing fest of sex, death and destruction – just your average high school semester.
Director Georgia Broomhill has elicited a highly professional production from such a young cast. The original film / musical was set firmly in the ‘eighties. From the first scene, the singing and dancing skills were on fire and did not let up until the finale. Music Director Ben Francis has worked well with the more than 20 songs in this production; for the most part they’re standard music theatre, with the standouts being the aforementioned Seventeen, Candy Store, JD’s Freeze Your Brain and the emotive Lifeboat, beautifully delivered by Abi Sharp.
The highlight of this show is the dancing. Amongst the murders, mayhem, date rape, suicides and hauntings (the dead visit regularly), this cast is constantly on the move. Choreographer Shenayde Patterson has read this show brilliantly, and working with Ben Francis’s musical direction, has created a tour de force of movement and excitement. Just wonderful, from first to last.
Heathers has two casts: this night saw Class 2 on the stage and no doubt Class 1 is just as accomplished. While the subject matter can be difficult at times, the performances are to be lauded. Well done, Pelican.
Arna Eyers-White
When: 13 to 15 Sep
Where: Arts Theatre
Bookings: trybooking.com
