Heathers the Musical Review: A Defanged Yet Entertaining Teen Satire
Before Mean Girls dominated the teen comedy landscape, there was Heathers, the 1989 black comedy film that remains a cruel and cutting satire of 80s high school life. The story follows Veronica Sawyer, a popular girl with an outsider's heart, who navigates the tyrannical rule of the "lip gloss gestapo"—a trio of cool girls all named Heather at Westerberg High. After falling for the mysterious new student Jason "JD" Dean, Veronica becomes an unwitting accomplice to murders disguised as suicides, blending dark humor with social commentary.
From Screen to Stage: A Millennial Makeover
Heathers the Musical premiered in 2014, and this production at Arts Centre Melbourne, now touring Australia, reflects more of a millennial aesthetic than the film's gritty original tone. With a bombastic pop-rock score by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy, known for Legally Blonde, the musical has cultivated a devoted fanbase. Opening night felt akin to a pop concert, with costumed audience members erupting in high-pitched screams as the cast took the stage, highlighting its cult following.
The young cast delivers standout performances, particularly Emma Caporaso in her professional debut as Veronica. Swapping Winona Ryder's apathetic cynicism for a warmer, more likable portrayal makes the ensuing antics jarring yet engaging, though it softens the bite of Veronica's iconic sarcastic lines. Caporaso's soaring vocals elevate key songs like Dead Girl Walking and the anthemic ballad Seventeen, adding emotional depth to the character's journey.
Vibrant Staging and Standout Performances
David Shields' clever stage design often positions the Heathers a tier above the rest of the cast, visually reinforcing their social hierarchy. Color plays a striking role, with Clueless-esque color-blocked outfits matched by vibrant spotlights. A thrilling moment occurs when Heather Duke, played by Amélia Rojas, ascends to leadership, signaled by her green attire and socks suddenly turning bright red, showcasing the production's attention to visual storytelling.
Calista Nelmes embodies the "mythic bitch" queen bee Heather Chandler with campy flair, bedazzled in red and delivering impressive vocal gymnastics on Candy Store. Abigail Sharp as Heather McNamara shines in Lifeboat, displaying a dynamic range from timid whispers to powerful belts. Conor Beaumont portrays JD with sensitivity, quoting Beaudelaire and adding flashes of tortured humanity, a departure from Christian Slater's more psychopathic film version. While Beaumont's vocals waver on songs like Meant To Be Yours, his chemistry with Caporaso feels strong and believable.
Addressing Serious Themes with Mixed Success
Heathers tackles weighty issues such as suicide, bullying, eating disorders, rape culture, and homophobia. The musical acknowledges evolving sensibilities, replacing the controversial song Blue with You're Welcome since 2019, in a scene where Veronica faces real physical danger from jocks Kurt and Ram, played as goofy comic relief by Nic Van Lits and David Cuny. A one-liner from the film transforms into an unlikely celebration of queerness in My Dead Gay Son, and slow-motion fight scenes add schlocky humor, undercutting the depicted violence.
However, newer songs like I Say No, where Veronica rejects JD with on-the-nose lyrics comparing him to a drug, spell things out too explicitly. This unsubtle moralizing erases the gray areas that made Heathers a strange and compelling story, diminishing the stakes and leaving the musical feeling more bark than bite. Despite this, the tonal chaos captures the whiplash of Slater's chilling film line: "Our love is God. Let's go get a slushie."
Final Verdict: Hammy Fun with Lowered Stakes
Heathers the Musical offers good, hammy fun with a candy-colored aesthetic and energetic performances, but it loses the film's dark edge and moral complexity. The cast and audience clearly enjoy the ride, making it an entertaining experience despite its defanged approach. For fans of pop-rock scores and vibrant theatre, it's a worthwhile watch, even if the high stakes of the original are softened.
The production runs in Melbourne until 9 May, with tours to Adelaide (16-26 July), Gold Coast (30 July-9 August), Canberra (14-23 August), Sydney (26-29 August and 1-19 September), and Perth (30 September – 11 October), bringing this dark teen comedy to stages across Australia.
