Midterms are in full swing, and for those of us who are juggling more than one midterm, life can feel pretty overwhelming. To counteract these feelings of stress and anxiety, I decided to take a break last weekend and head out to a musical produced by our very own Hart House Theatre- Heathers: The Musical.
I've always been an avid fan of musicals and knew all the lyrics to Wicked, so this was an exciting discovery, to say the least. Directed by Jennifer Walls, the musical version of the iconic 1988 black comedy had a lot to live up to. My friend and I had ordered last minute tickets, as we both weren't excited to be holed up for another Friday night.
The show started with a dramatic opening that was just as retro and colourful as I hoped it would be. Immediately, I could recognize the characters from the movie, with each character portraying their predecessor impeccably well. As the original wasn't a musical, I was thoroughly impressed with the various songs, with the actor's voices projecting loud and clear. By the end of the first act, I was completely mesmerized.
Before the First Act- no photography allowed, sadly.
To avoid spoiling the plot for those who have never seen the movie, I will comment on the second act in terms of performances and personal experience. The second act made better use of the set, with actors creating several layers of space to perform on. The second act amped up the drama, leaving my friend and I on the edge of our seats. The musical ended with an epic finale, with the whole theatre erupting in applause and standing up for an ovation. I left with a huge grin, and I had never expected Hart House to produce a musical of this caliber. My friend and I both agreed that the decision to see a last-minute musical was the best decision we've made in a while.
Fun Things I Observed:
The dark humour. True to its 1988 original, the musical was loaded with hilarious jokes that were very shocking, albeit funny.
The 80's attire. The costume design team did a great job with the shoulder pads and plaid skirts!
The finale- No spoilers here, but I will say that it ended with smoke and gasps from the crowd.
LGBTQ representation- One of the songs involved a large rainbow flag being waved by the characters.
For those who got to see Heathers, I hope you enjoyed it just as much as I did, and for those who didn't, I highly recommend checking out future shows. Check out Hart House Theatre to see upcoming shows and musicals.
Until next time,
Joanna
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