Pack your schoolbag and put on your pleated skirt; you’re invited into the corridors of Westerberg High, as the well-known show Heathers has a run in Cardiff once again. It’s a musical that is growing in popularity, with a massive following of fans, and is gradually gaining the status of being one of the West End’s most iconic shows. We follow Veronica Sawyer as she attempts to infiltrate the popular gang in her school, the Heathers. However, things quickly turn darker than expected when she ends up dating rebellious teen JD. If you’re unfamiliar with the story of Heathers, it’s good to know that the show has a dark storyline, and it’s not quite the jaunty musical that you might be expecting. That said, it has an incredible soundtrack full of upbeat tunes to juxtapose this. In my opinion, a musical soundtrack that is very underrated. Given the storyline, you also wouldn’t expect the show to be as hilarious as it is. The scripting is genius and makes light of an otherwise gloomy story.
As a musical theatre buff, I can’t hide that fact that Heathers is one of my favourites. The combination of catchy songs, loveable characters, and comedy makes it the perfect watch. It’s a show that is aware of how silly it is and uses that to make the humour even more enjoyable. It’s obvious that I’m not the only one who loves this show, as the audience was filled with fans who were dressed in outfits that made a nod to their favourite character in the show – there were a sea of bright blazers, pleated skirts, and sports jerseys. I also noticed that crowds screamed and cheered at the end of each song much louder than most other shows I’ve seen, proving that, for many, this wasn’t their first-time watching Heathers. The dedicated following proves the success of Heathers and is credit to how great this show is.
This was my third time watching the Heathers tour at the Wales Millennium Centre. I remember the first time I watched it, I was in awe of how seamless the tech and transitions of the show were; it was one of the smoothest west-end shows I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same watching it this time around. It was certainly more clunky than before, with several microphone issues throughout. I don’t feel like these small issues hindered my experience of the show, but it’s hard not to notice them. I also think there’s credit to be given to the Wales Millennium Centre staff and the tech team involved, because they are quick to notice issues and fix them so that the show can go on.
I absolutely must acknowledge the incredible talent of the cast in this tour of Heathers. Their individual voices and their collective harmonies left me with goosebumps. The story is, of course, the main event of going to see a show, but for me, I love getting to experience the voices of the actors who have worked tirelessly to be on that stage. Heathers is a must see show that will take you through a myriad of emotions, ultimately leaving you feeling good and full of laughter. Heathers is in the Wales Millennium Centre until Saturday 17th August, you can find out more and get your tickets here: https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2024/heathers.
