by Susannah Whitman
If you’re looking for rocking music and plenty of teenage angst, look no further than Utah Repertory Theatre’s production of Heathers. Full of 80s throwbacks, dark humor, and great choreography, this show offers an edgy alternative to Utah’s standard Disney fare.
The show opens with Veronica Sawyer wandering the halls of Westerberg High School, 1989—or rather, attempting to navigate its shark-filled waters. High school is tough when you’re not on the top of the food chain, so Veronica makes a decision to find a way in with the most popular girls in the school: Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara, and Heather Duke. If she can become a “Heather” herself, maybe she can survive the rumors, taunts, and bullying that dominate high school life. Things get complicated with the arrival of “bad boy” JD, though. Veronica and JD share a bed and a hatred for high school’s social maze. But while Veronica’s plan is to befriend those who know their way around, JD’s plan is to blow the maze up. JD’s anarchy slowly gets more and more out of hand, and Veronica has to decide how much she’s willing to give up to stay on top.
The musical is a 2014 adaptation of the 1981 cult classic film Heathers, a predecessor to “Mean Girls,” but with more violence and macabre humor. The adaptation is wildly successful in using songs to expand iconic moments in the film, and playing homage to some of the classic lines of the movie.
Karli Rose Lowry and Derek Gregerson have some big shoes to fill—Winona Ryder and Christian Slater played the roles of Veronica and JD in the 1981 film. But both actors make the characters their own with enormous success. Karli Rose Lowry fills the rafters with a stunning voice, and her humor and honesty make her one of the most likeable protagonists imaginable. In his final number, Derek Gregerson’s eyes communicate so much heartbroken madness, you can’t help but love him, flawed as he is. Other stand-out performances come from Michael Hernandez and Dan Ogden, who play the caveman-esque football players who reside at the top of the high school’s social food chain. Both Hernandez and Ogden gave committed, honest, and hilarious performances. Chaska Johnson as Martha Dunnstock (“Martha Dumptruck”) gave a moving performance as Veronica’s childhood best friend, especially in her song “Kindergarten Boyfriend.” There were no weak cast members at all—every actor created full characters, sang and danced well, and committed fully to every scene.
The show features a live 5-piece band, placed directly behind the actors onstage. The energy they bring to the music is inspiring. Rick Rea’s musical direction shone, especially in large group numbers, and Michael Hernandez’s choreography was engaging and energetic and perfectly suited to the show.
The venue is a small one, located inside the Sorensen Community Center, but there are no bad seats in the space, it’s got lights and sound to rival any other small theatre. The performance I saw had a few technical glitches, but I could easily see the vision of the designers, and they didn’t distract very much from the show.
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While the costumes, by Nancy Cannon, were fun and fitting, many of them seemed to be lifted from the off-Broadway production, without much originality. However, they looked great and definitely gave color and spunk to the show. Nothing seemed out of place, but I was disappointed to not see more creativity. Johnny Hebda’s direction worked well throughout the show. Set pieces were created using acting blocks, and projections were used to signify specific locations. The projections were the weakest aspect of the production—most of the time they were unnecessary, and at worst, they were distracting. Most of what they accomplished could have been done with lighting, sound, and/or music, without causing the audience’s attention to wander away from the actors onstage to the screen above their heads.
Utah Rep is now in its 4th season, and Heathers is exactly the kind of edgy, provocative theatre they’ve become known for. The company offers alternative theatre to audiences who are looking for something more than another production of a Disney musical. Not that there’s anything wrong with Disney musicals—it’s just that variety is valuable. I’d give this show a strong PG-13 rating (language, sexuality, teen suicide), but for those interested in something dark and entertaining and yes, thoughtful, I highly recommend Heathers.
Utah Repertory Theatre presents Heathers: The Musical by Kevin Murphey and Laurence O’Keefe.
Sorensen Unity Center, Black Box Theatre, 1383 S 900 W, Salt Lake City
November 4-5, 11-12, 18-20
7:30 pm, Saturday matinee 2 pm, Sunday matinee on November 20 at 3 pm
Tickets: $20 for adults, $17 for students/seniors
Available at the door or online at http://utahrep.org
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