In a flurry of hairspray, hilarity and harmonies, St. Thomas University’s musical theatre class production of Heathers made the audience laugh – and then immediately feel guilty about it.
This musical version of the dark comedy cult-classic ‘80s film by the same name sold out at The Black Box Theatre every night from March 2 to 5. Leigh Rivenbark directed the entertaining production, which commented on the vicious cycle of learned violence while exploring themes of suicide, murder and, worst of all, high school ‘mean girls’.
Rivenbark describes the set as “cafeteria meets prison.” The black, rusted building with iron bar doors stands at the back of the Blackbox, with multiple levels, allowing every person in the 39-student cast to have their moment.
The musical is narrated by main character Veronica (Katelyn Goodwin,) an average high school senior. She speaks to the audience through “dear diary” segments. To survive the eat-or-be-eaten environment of Westerburg High School, she latches on to the popular “teflon” mean girls, the Heathers.
After abandoning her childhood friend and getting drunk at the jocks’ house party, she realizes her friendship with the Heathers is beginning to change who she is. So naturally, she confronts them. That same night, she sneaks into the mysterious trench-coat-wearing new kid’s room and has sex with him.
The new kid, JD (Alex Rioux) is obviously happy to see Veronica’s change of heart, especially since he had warned her of the Heathers before.
Until that scene, the musical seems pretty tame, aside from a few bulimia jokes and cafeteria fights.
The jokes are in constant stream, but every so often one of the characters says something like “everyone’s life has got static,” that captures the drama and cynicisms of teenagerhood.
The harmonies were on point, considering some of the cast, including Olivia LaPointe as Heather Chandler, are still in high school. Goodwin’s vocals and performance were almost flawless, and she and Rioux had good chemistry.
The school puts on a televised memorial, Heather McNamara (Alexis MacRae) attempts suicide, and talks it out through a mouthful of pills.
The students lose hope in adults, and realize their teachers are just as lost as they are. The bullied become bullies.
The play crescendos with JD deciding to blow up the school, forcing Veronica to realize she’s allowed his hatred to infiltrate her.
In a well-choreographed and climactic ending fight scene, Veronica saves the school, JD sacrifices himself and the students emerge having learned a lesson of love and compassion.
In the end this play speaks to the idea that if people do not treat each other with compassion, society might just self-destruct.
The crude humour and endearingly stereotypical characters allow everyone in the audience to relate. And the use of comedy made the exploration of dark themes palatable and even entertaining.
