At Hart House Theatre, Toronto, Ont.
Book, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy
Based on the film (1989) written by Daniel Waters.
Directed by Jennifer Walls
Musical director, Giustin MacLean
Choreographer, Amanda Nuttall
Set by Brendan Kleiman
Costumes by Erin Frances Gerofsky
Lighting and projections by Melissa Joakim
Cast: Hunter Agnew
Rose-Ingrid Benjamin
Moulan Bourke
Mary Bowden
Aaron Cadesky
Paige Foskett
Becka Jay
Wade Minacs
Justan Myers
Emma Sangalli
Mark J. Umphrey
Ensemble:
Taha Arshad
Justine DeSouza
Connor Ferris
Maggie Gallagher
Fay Gamliel
Jacob Moro
Bohdan Onushko
Madison Sekulin
Allison Leia Wall
In spite of an energetic cast with strong voices, lively direction by Jennifer Walls and breathless choreography by Amanda Nuttall, Heathers is hideous. It’s based on the 1989 cult film and seems to follow its checklist of teenage troubles, (suicide, bullying, fitting in, manipulation, cruelty, peer pressure, fear of being gay, attempted rape etc.). It’s all written with a liberal dose of smarminess. It’s not good enough to be satire or smart enough to suggest a solution. The ending is simplistic slop.
Choosing to do this show in this day and age without a scintilla of attention and awareness to what is actually happening to our youth, is plain insensitive. How about this: 1) Take the word HEATHERS. 2) Remove the “S”. 3) Now spell what’s left backwards: REHTAEH. 4) Now add the last name of PARSONS. 5) Rehtaeh Parson killed herself in 2013 because of bullying and on-line shaming, one year before Heathers The Musical was first produced Off-Broadway.
Full review to follow shortly.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Lynn,
I’d suggest speaking on things you know about.
Since you are, clearly, not a youth in this day in age and CLEARLY have no sweet clue what youth deal with this day in age. I’d suggest you rethink your review. Incidentally, it shows a troubling inability to differentiate between script and production. It drags down the local artists who seem to have tried to present this subject matter with respect. Nobody wants to see another know-it-all- boomer speaking in behalf on the more than capable youth of today.
Sincerely,
A Youth.
Hello Lynn,
So I’m guessing you didn’t enjoy the production? I too was there last night but what I saw was a courageous production filled with talent, great energy and love. Clearly, the entire company was engaged and committed to the story they are telling. I disagree with you wholeheartedly about the show’s content. The subject material is far more significant today than in 1989 – surely, the audiences currently flocking to HEATHERS in West End bears witness to its relevance. What is insensitive nonetheless is your review. Your choice of vocabulary reflecting your perspective couldn’t be more hurtful to the young company. Even more insensitive and a cheap attempt at reviewer cleverness is your anagram reference to Rehteah Parsons. Shame on you.
Sincerely,
An Old Broad