Through Sat 7/2
So sue me — Heathers: The Musical makes such delicious dark fun of high school that it’s now one of my new favorite musicals. Playing at the Beck Center until July 2, this delightful romp exposes the absurd power cliques can hold during transformative teen years. That the bullies “get theirs” in assorted ridiculous fashions offers catharsis for any teen trauma victims (no matter how old they are now).
Should there be trigger warnings attached? Only if fake suicides, unintended and intended murders, poisoning, threats of rape, rape, or fist fights in the hall bring panic or despair. Even then, the mayhem is handled with such tongue-in-cheek over the topness that nothing would be really frightening for most of us. The evening news likely brings much more terror than these young dancing, singing delights. All this to say: Director Scott Spence applies just the right touch of ridiculousness and wit to this adaptation by Tony-nominee Laurence O’Keefe and Emmy-winner Kevin Murphy of the 1989 cult film of the same name.
It’s the story of Veronica Sawyer (the sweet-voiced and appealing Madeline Krucek), a new girl in school, who yearns to be popular. Krucek makes her character so likeable we forgive her, even when she makes incredibly bad choices. She manages to charm the Heathers, objects of near-worship by their peers (they arrive onstage in a cloud of steam). Once the meanest Heather (Heather Chandler, played with comic authority by Kayla Heichel) accepts her, success seems assured. The other Heathers provide even more snap and sass: there’s the next-to-worst Heather, Heather McNamara (Amy Kohmescher), and the insecure Heather, Heather Duke (brought to life by Tia Karaplis).
Veronica and her best friend Martha Dunnstock (played by Molly Millsaps who makes the most of her character’s dorky earnestness) seem to be the only good-hearted students in the school. Another one of the good ones, teacher Ms. Fleming (the irrepressible Amiee Collier), eventually brings the house down with her inspiring version of “Shine a Light.”
Almost all the guys are jock cliches. The two studliest and meanest ones, Ram Sweeney (Riley Ewing) and Kurt Kelly (Jonathan Walker White), may not deserve what they get, but maybe they do. Their fatal mistake involves tangling with the mysterious JD (played with smolder by Shane Lonergan), the rebel type that good girls like Veronica never can resist.
The excellent ensemble provides mini-glimpses of a varied list of characters such as Young Republicanette (Gabi Shook) and a Stoner Chick (Kacey Faix). Other ensemble members include Matthew Wright, Paul Floriano, Zach Landes, Greg Good, Joe Virgo and DeLee Cooper.
The show’s in the snug Studio Theatre so it’s almost like being in high school again (oh, please, no!) except that in my school there wasn’t amazing slow-mo action fighting, snappy dancing and refreshingly good songs. Spence and choreographer Martín Céspedes have crafted dances and action that highlight just how evil and how very wonderfully good the characters are. Larry Goodpaster, conductor (and keyboard player) leads his merry small band of seven offstage.
There’s even a joke for English majors. JD’s father (Wright) is a “deconstructionist,” only in his case instead of re-interpreting classic texts as some professors do to suit lit crit theory, he takes down buildings. Bamm! Jacques Derrida, take that!
Bottom Line: This darkly funny, extremely well-presented musical will make even the grumpiest laugh (in fact, it’s designed to make the grumpy laugh).
Get tickets for this regional premiere at beckcenter.org or 216-521-2540.
[Written by Laura Kennelly]
Lakewood, OH 44107