The 1980’s brought a golden age of cult classics — “The
Breakfast Club,” “The Princess Bride,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the list
goes on — but 1989’s “Heathers” is in a (high school) class of its own.
The
musical version follows the same plot as the film: On the first day of high
school in 1989, intelligent, pretty social outcast Veronica Sawyer is invited
into an exclusive high school clique called “The Heathers” after she
successfully forges a hall pass to get the popular girls out of detention.
The three
Heathers, led by vicious queen bee Heather Chandler, give Veronica a makeover. The
new kid, Jason “J.D.” Dean, notices Veronica’s hesitancy to truly conform to
the Heathers, and criticizes her choices when she betrays her childhood best
friend, Martha Dunnstock. J.D. and Veronica start to “go steady,” and that’s
where the story takes off at Westerburg High.
“Heathers:
The Musical” was first staged as a concert at Joe’s Pub in NYC’s Public Theater
in 2010; produced as a full musical for sold-out Los Angeles audiences in 2013;
and moved to off-Broadway for a brief run in 2014. The Blackfriars Theatre
production is the first time the show has been performed in the state outside
of New York City. Kevin Murphy (the musical adaptation of “Reefer Madness”) and
Laurence O’Keefe (“Legally Blonde: The Musical,” “Bat Boy: The Musical”), who
excel in the kitschy films-adapted-for-stage genre, penned the book, music, and
lyrics.
In the role
of Veronica Sawyer, Nazareth College musical theater major Kit Prelewitz is an
effortlessly ideal good girl-turned-kind of bad. Prelewitz portrays the spunk
and rebellion iconized by Winona Ryder in the film role, but she adds her own
interpretation to the role, bringing in a softer, quietly strong side to
Veronica. With her clear, sweet voice and spot-on acting skills, Prelewitz is a
burgeoning starlet with many more leading roles in her future.
Playing
opposite her is Jimmy Boorum as Jason “J.D.” Dean. Boorum is a regular on the
local theater circuit, but this role is somehow ideal for him (and it’s not
just the Christian Slater-esque hair). Boorum captures the angst of the teenage
years but adds in just enough crazy to make it feel uncomfortable. Together,
Boorum and Prelewitz have some of the best duets in the show (“Our Love is
God,” “Dead Girl Walking,” “Seventeen”).
As the
leader of the Heathers, Heather Chandler, Brynn Tyszka is perhaps the strongest
stage presence in the show. She delivers Chandler’s ruthless lines with a
sharp, deadpan wit, and her more “ethereal” appearances in the second act are
crucial to the energy of the show. Sammi Cohen plays the bulimic, quiet Heather
Duke to hilarious perfection, with glorious side eye moments. Completing the
Heathers trifecta is Abby Kate Herron, who manages to be both adorable and
deplorable as the stereotypical head cheerleader.
Jessica
Kaufman plays Veronica’s childhood best friend, Martha “Dumptruck” Dunnstock.
Though she performs her role well, her finest moment by far is her solo
“Kindergarten Boyfriend,” which is at once the saddest and the most beautiful
song in the show. (In fact, every person in the cast can sing well, and that’s
part of why it’s such an enjoyable few hours.)
Bobby Conte
and J. Simmons play football stars and bullies Ram Sweeney and Kurt Kelly, and
the duo provides much of the irreverent comedic relief throughout the show. In
rotating roles as the “adults” of Westerburg High, Jeff Andrews, Brian J.
Maxwell, and Kerry Young make the most of their brief stage cameos. Young, in
particular, is deadpan funny as the syrupy Ms. Fleming. A supporting ensemble
of six “high school students” in colorful 80’s garb rounds out the cast.
Danny
Hoskins directs the production, and he’s built a marvelous cast and crew.
Blackfriars’ new development manager, Mary Tiballi Hoffman, assistant directs,
and Andy Pratt is the musical director. The choreography, which stays simple
and fun, is by Mandy Hassett. Eric Williamson designed a versatile, moving set
covered in 80’s-era squiggles, and Lighting Designer Ted Plant capitalizes on
the blank canvas with plenty of neon lighting throughout the show. Costume
designers Janice Ferger and Kayleigh Yancey outfit the cast in everything from
boxy suit coats and side ponytails to varsity jackets and knee-high socks with
short skirts.
“Heathers”
is a dark, divinely good time — truly an exclamation point on the end of
Hoskins’ first season with Blackfriars.
This article appears in May 18-24, 2016.
