Heathers The Musical is bringing menacing mean girls and murderous misfits to Milton Keynes Theatre this week, writes Georgina Butler.
Based on an 80s film that became a cult classic, this high-octane rock musical will reveal the sensational experiences of unassuming high school student Veronica Sawyer.
Veronica is trying to survive her senior year at Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death. When she is unexpectedly welcomed into the inner circle of the ‘Heathers’, a trio of beautiful girls who rule the school, she finds herself at the top of the social hierarchy. Unfortunately, the Heathers are cartoonishly cruel, so Veronica rejects their evil regime.
Enter JD, a mysterious rebel, and cue Veronica developing a major crush. Somehow, she gets swept up in her dangerous new boyfriend’s plan to put the Heathers in their place – six feet under. Veronica is about to learn a powerful lesson. It might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder to be a somebody!
Heathers has a fanbase subculture that rivals that of The Rocky Horror Show. Hardcore fans – who are known as ‘Corn Nuts’ – attend performances dressed in pleated miniskirts and structured blazers, armed with colourful hair scrunchies.
Those devotees will be going nuts to know that the show is back with a bang following two record-breaking West End seasons and two previous UK tours. Regular theatregoers can expect to be entertained by its diabolically dark comedy and timeless, twisted plot. Indeed, although the film, which starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, was written in the 1980s, the subject matter covered – bullying, school violence, sexual assault and suicide – is just as relevant today.
Raid your wardrobe and change your name to Heather. Heathers The Musical promises to be one class production that you can’t afford to skip.
Running time: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including an interval.
This production contains haze, loud noises (including gunshots), flashing lights and strobe, strong language and mature themes (including murder, suicide, sexual violence and reference to eating disorders).
Heathers The Musical is at Milton Keynes Theatre from this evening, Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 September.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher. Visit https://georginabutler.co.uk and follow her on Twitter @GeorginaLButler and Instagram @glbdancewriter
