With forged suicide notes, stolen explosives, and mugs of toxic drain cleaner, Heathers: The Musical takes teenage angst to a whole new level. This production by the McLean Community Players, directed by Liz Colandene, is as black as comedy gets but has more heart than you might think.
Heathers: The Musical is based on the 1989 cult classic film written by Daniel Waters to provide an antithesis to the happy-go-lucky teen movies of the era. Full of teens who bully, harass, and kill one another, Heathers counters that high school is no picnic. Veronica Sawyer is a nobody at Westerberg High School until she decides to befriend the three most popular girls in school — all named Heather — to raise her social status and protect her from torment. But when the mysterious JD moves to town and catches Veronica’s eyes, he drags her along with him on a downward spiral of murder and mayhem. With JD’s psychopathic tendencies and Veronica’s talent for forgery, it suddenly appears that a suicide epidemic has reached this once-average school. JD takes a bleak view of high school bullies, preaching that the world won’t be a better place until they’re blown to smithereens. Veronica, on the other hand, wonders: can even the worst of us be saved?
Despite this deep, dark question at the core, Heathers is still as bright and spiffy as a high school pep rally. The electrifying pop rock soundtrack is as fun as it gets, with hilariously memorable numbers like “My Dead Gay Son” and “Big Fun.” The mood turns reflective in passionate, soulful songs like “Kindergarten Boyfriend” and “Seventeen,” but even in its more solemn moments, Heathers is never too far from the playful spoof it is. One outstanding example of this is “Freeze Your Brain,” JD’s earnest lament about his eternal love for convenience store chain 7-Eleven. Who knew Slurpees could bring such solace to tortured teens?
The talented cast shines through in powerful vocals that make the show come alive. Two remarkable performances include Alicia Zheng, who plays protagonist Veronica Sawyer, singing “Dead Girl Walking” with passion and control, and Lisa Kalinowski as Heather McNamara singing “Lifeboat” with clarity and beauty.
The cast of Heathers doesn’t just impress with their ability to carry a tune. Cody Boehm’s performance as Heather Chandler is a delightful highlight of the show. Boehm infuses Heather Chandler with such charm and charisma that even in her cruelest moments, the audience can’t help but understand why everyone craves the elusive approval of the teenage diva. Jehan Silva plays a convincingly brooding JD, and Meghan Bentley, who plays Heather Duke, is hilarious to watch as she strives to become the next queen bee of the high school social hierarchy.
Costumes are vital to the heart of Heathers, and costume designer Claire Jefferys stays true to text with the Heathers’ iconic matching plaid skirts — the garish red, yellow, and green of the Heather trio contrasting Veronica’s cool blue ensemble — and JD’s unforgettable trench coat.
The set design is simple and unadorned, making use of a few key pieces like school lockers and beds, and utilizing colored light to reflect the mood of the scene — or just to poke some fun, as they do with a large, radiant rainbow background at the funeral of the allegedly gay football players. Sound and lighting malfunctions occasionally distracted from the performance, but the cast pushed through these challenges with a professional ease.
The subject matter of Heathers is no laughing matter, but the sincerity at the show’s core allows it to be playful in its handling of murder, suicide, and the hellish experience of high school. Heathers is a candy store chock full of witty zingers, teenage angst, and electric talent that you won’t want to miss.
Running Time: Two and a half hours with a 15-minute intermission.
Heathers: The Musical plays through July 28, 2024 (Friday-Saturday 8 pm, Sunday matinees 2 pm), presented by McLean Community Players performing at the McLean Community Center, Alden Theater, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA. Tickets ($30/$25 with the lower prices available for students, seniors, McLean residents, and groups) can be purchased online.
Heathers: The Musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by Kevin Murphy & Laurence O’Keefe
Based on the film written by Daniel Waters
Directed by Liz Colandene; Produced by Mike Holland, Jess Rawls, and Karen Veltri; Assistant Director Jackie Madejski; Music Direction by Matthew Scarborough; Stage Manager Beck Webster; Assistant Stage Managers Jack Laird and Rachel Nelson; Choreography by Caroline Scarborough; Lighting Design and Operations by Ari McSherry; Lighting Assistant Adam Newland; Set Design by Mike Holland; Set Construction by Mike Holland and Adam Renner; Costume Design by Claire Jefferys; Sound Design by Joshua Fields
CAST
Veronica Sawyer: Alicia Zheng
JD: Jehan Silva
Heather Chandler: Cody Boehm
Heather Duke: Meghan Bentley
Heather McNamara: Lisa Kalinowski
Martha Dunstock: Brittany Washington
Ram Sweeney: Evan Zimmerman
Kurt Kelly: Mylo Cuff
Ram’s Dad and Adults: Alexander Colon
Kurt’s Dad and Adults: Laura Bingham
Ms. Fleming/Mom: Ahryel Tinker
Dance Captain: Marc Barbret
Ensemble: Marc Barbret, Cady Denk, Andrew Edwards, Mary Efimetz, Bella Lerch, Elana Kirwan, Owen Potts, Loic Razanakoto, Lourdes Turnblom
