Elana Kirwan, Lisa Kalinowski, Andrew Edwards, Owen Potts, Brittany Washington, Mylo Cluff, Alicia Zheng, Cody Boehm, Bella Lerch, Lourdes Turnblom, Evan Zimmerman, Loic Razanakoto, Alexander Colón, Meghan Bentley, Ahryel Tinker, and Laura Bingham. Photo by Julie Dinh.
The McLean Community Players’ production of “Heathers: The Musical” (book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe) is really good. Though it was hampered by some technical issues with the sound which interfered with a few punchlines, Director Liz Colandene, along with a stellar cast and team, has pulled off a successful production, with some slight changes from the original.
…Director Liz Colandene, along with a stellar cast and team, has pulled off a successful production….an engaging and humorous evening at The Alden Theatre.
Originally written for the 1988 film by Daniel Waters as a “black comedy satire,” “Heathers” revolves around high-school senior, Veronica Sawyer, who finds herself involved with people she ends up wishing she wasn’t. First, there are The Heathers, a popular trio of girls similar to The Plastics in “Mean Girls,” and later, Jason “J.D.” Dean, a sociopath out for blood who initially thinks he’s found the Bonnie to his Clyde in Veronica as they sing “Our Love is God.” While the director aims to impart a message of redemption, I believe the musical’s takeaway is that, given the alternative (death, suicide, and murder), teenagers should learn to be teenagers—“see bad movies, sneak a beer and watch TV…”
Colandene has chosen an exceptional vocal lead for this production. In the opening number, “Beautiful,” Alicia Zheng’s angelic voice is stunning to hear, particularly when she harmonizes in parts. As Veronica Sawyer, she continues to impress when she swaps her oversized gray garb for knee-high socks, high heels, and a short pleated skirt, which becomes her uniform for the rest of the play. Zheng’s singing shines again in “Dead Girl Walking” and “Seventeen.” The choreography is minimal, but the introduction of The Heathers and Veronica—with a lineup of cafeteria trays leading up to the stage ramp as if they were pop stars at a rock concert—is very creative.
Evan Zimmeran as Ram Sweeney and Mylo Cuff as Kurt Kelly excel in portraying the linebacker and captain of the school’s football team, respectively. (Their bromance is reminiscent of characters from Nickelodeon’s teen sitcom, “Drake and Josh.”) Cody Boehm impresses with her powerful voice as Heather Chandler, and the ensemble is also phenomenal. They particularly stand out in “My Dead Gay Son” (sung with Alexander Colón as Ram’s Dad and Laura Bingham as Kurt’s Dad) and the finale, “Seventeen Reprise.” Matthew Scarborough and his orchestra performed exceptionally well, though the instruments occasionally overpowered the vocals due to issues with the mics.
Fight/Intimacy coordinators and captains Adian Chapman, Jehan Silva, and Laura Bingham draw inspiration from dueling scenes in “Hamilton.” The Act One fight scene in “Fight for Me,” as well as the second act’s tussle in “Dead Girl Walking (Reprise),” are convincingly executed in slow motion. Costume Designer Claire Jeffreys, along with Natalie Turkevich (hair and makeup), deserve honorable mentions for authentically portraying high school students across America—the cool kids, jocks, and nerds/geeks. Lighting and sound designers and operators Ari McSherry, Adam Newland, and Joshua Fields work exceptionally well together. In scenes involving gunshots or explosions, the backlight and sound effects are perfectly synchronized, although sometimes the spotlight seems misplaced. The use of lighting, ranging from blue to red to pride colors, effectively enhances the various scenes and musical numbers.
Despite the recurring sound issues that will likely be addressed for future performances, this production provided an engaging and humorous evening at The Alden Theatre.
Running Time: Two hours 30 minutes including a 15-minute intermission.
Advisory: Contains explicit language, graphic violence, self-harm/suicide/suicidal ideation, sexual content, sexual violence, homophobia, stalking/harassment, eating disorders and fatphobia, depiction of death and drug/alcohol abuse.
“Heathers: The Musical” runs through July 28, 2024 presented by McLean Community Players at The Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
