By Alix Cohen…
A splashy satire that bakes bullying, teenage suicide, and sexual assault in dark, subversive humor.
Heathers has been around since the 1989 film with Wynona Ryder and Christian Slater. A musical version opened Off Broadway in 2018, had break out success in England, and back in New York, recently extended through January of next year. The angsty, competitive Mean Girls owes Heathers its pedigree.
Over the years, the show has fostered a cult following. Audience is familiar with characters, key phrases and songs. Enthusiasm is vociferous. Who hasn’t suffered the cliques of adolescence and malicious peers? Who hasn’t longed to be popular and cool? These days social media is a Petri Dish for insecurity, confusion, and personal vendetta. Only the method of delivery has changed.
“College will be paradise if I’m not dead by June” high school senior Veronica Sawyer (Lorna Courtney) writes in her diary. One more year that she and heavyset best friend Martha Dunnstock (a sympathetic Erin Morton) will be relegated to sitting with the unpopular girls and endure being bullied by football jocks Ram Sweeney (Xavier McKinnon) and Kurt Kelly (Cade Ostermeyer).
The two actors are wonderful as jocks; physically limber, believably smart ass, obtuse, and egotistical. Coordinated response and chemistry adds immeasurably.
Double doors open. Bass guitar resonates, smoke billows, lights flash. Enter the hierarchical rulers of Westerberg High: Leader, Heather Chandler (McKenzie Kurtz), Heather Duke (Olivia Hardy) and Heather McNamara (Elizabeth Teeter) in distinctive red, green, and yellow crayon-color outfits. Two young fans sitting near me replicate costumes.
Let to right: Cade Ostermeyer (Kurt Kelly), Xavier McKinnon (Ram Sweeney) and Lorna Courtney (Veronica Sawyer)
Erin Morton (Martha Dunnstock), Lorna Courtney (Veronica Sawyer)
McKenzie Kurtz, Lorna Courtney, Elizabeth Teeter and Olivia Hardy
Olivia Hardy with Syd Sider, Kiara Michelle Lee, Brian Martin, James Caleb Grice, Cecilia Trippiedi, Devin Lewis
Lorna Courtney and the company
When teacher Ms. Fleming (Kerry Butler in a thankless role) questions the Heathers being out of class, Veronica inexplicably sticks up for them utilizing a deftly forged hall pass. In exchange, she requests the “boon” of sitting with the trio at lunch, assuming others will then leave her alone.
Heather C is intrigued. To prove allegiance, Veronica must forge an invitation to Martha from Ram. Veronica winces but does what’s asked. She’s clandestinely observed by new boy, Jason J.D. Dean. (Casey Likes) When the jocks give her trouble, Jason takes them on. The fight is effectively manifest in slow motion. What could be more appealing to a teenage girl than an outsider/bad boy rescue?
David Shields does a yeoman-like job with the Set. (A headstone in the cemetery would help define that scene.) Standout versions of the Heathers, and Veronicas’ signature outfits are vivid fun. Jason’s ersatz gothic clothing choices work well. That Ms. Fleming should dress full out hippie in 1989 Midwest stretches credibility, but may be tradition.
Casey Likes (Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean)
The girls make Veronica over (in blue.) She takes them home. Heather Chandler is rude to Mrs. Sawyer. “I know what they are, but they’ll get me safely through high school,” Veronica pragmatically explains. This is no innocent.
Suddenly hot guys smile at her “without a trace mockery.” She revels in newfound esteem.
We get a telling glimpse of Ram and Kurt’s fathers (a reliably fine Ben Davis and Cameron Loyal) who are as macho misogynistic as their sons. The men go fishing leaving the Sweeney unsupervised. Martha shows up uninvited to the loud, liquor fueled party. Her gift of nonalcoholic cider is inspired. Provoked by the Heathers, everyone makes fun of her.
Veronica defends her friend and resigns from “the Lip Gloss Gestapo.” Heather C threatens ignominious exile. Thoroughly drunk, Veronica climbs in Jason’s window and seduces him. “I’m hot and pissed and on the pill.” (Lyrics pull no punches.)
Casey Likes (Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean) and Lorna Courtney (Veronica Sawyer)
The next morning, her new boyfriend accompanies her to abjectly apologize. Heather C. is hungover, but no less imperious. Veronica is cowed. Jason has a solution.
Film, theater and literature has always featured vigilantes-in-the-name-of-justice. Lately their number has grown in response to people feeling angry, frightened and impotent. Dexter, a character who works with the Miami Police Department while secretly killing murders who escape justice, is about to return to the small screen.
Jason is a broken young man, a sociopath. In the name of protecting his new love and without her condoning it, he dispatches successive problematic classmates framing their deaths as suicide. Methodology and writing of these scenes is nifty. Suicide prevention becomes the town’s cause célèbre, a way to put it on the map. Legacies of the dead are rewritten.
Olivia Hardy (Heather Duke) with l-r, Syd Sider, Kiara Michelle Lee, Brian Martin, James Caleb Grice, Cecilia Trippiedi, Devin Lewis
Veronica is drawn and for some time convinced she and Jason can live a normal life despite its start. By the time she sees things clearly, more violence has been orchestrated. Only she can stop it. Despite body count, Heathers ends hopeful.
The musical is dated, but calling attention to these issues remains relevant. Book writing is sensitive and sharp. Robust performance buoys every minute. Vocals are superb. I’m a little uncomfortable with a scene in church supporting homosexuals in what seems a demeaning way.
Both Veronica Sawyer (formerly star of And Juliet) and Casey Likes (Formerly star of Back to the Furture) offer powerful voices and grounded characterization.
All three Heathers are excellent with McKenzie Kurt’s, Heather C. excelling at over the top expression and comic timing.
Lorna Courtney (Veronica Sawyer) and company
Director Andy Fickman creates a spirited, aesthetically pleasing show. Small gestures and reactions sharply and wryly pepper dialogue.
Choreography by Gary Lloyd (Additional Choreography by Stephanie Klemons) is appealingly athletic without looking stagey. Use of blue cafeteria trays as props could’ve been more imaginative.
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell and Sound Designer Dan Samson symbiotically create unnerving moments.
34% of U.S. teenagers (ages 12–17) reported being bullied in the past 12 months. Suicide was responsible for approximately 17% of all teen deaths in the U.S. last year making it one of the leading causes of death among adolescents. Overall, 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. The Jed Foundation
Photos by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Heathers- The Musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by Kevin Murphy & Laurence O’Keefe
Based on the film written by Daniel Waters
Directed by Andy Fickman
Music Supervisor- Will Joy
Extended Through January 2026
New World Stages
340 W 50th St, Two Worldwide Plaza Condominium
https://heathersthemusical.com/home/
