Andy Howells reviews Heathers The Musical, a film version recorded live at The Other Palace and playing UK Cinemas for one night only on March 28.
The stage musical adaptation of Heathers hits cinemas across the UK this Tuesday and its an unmissable treat for any fan of musical theatre, or indeed the original 1989 cult classic starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.
The musical adaptation, Heathers: The Musical follows Westerberg High student Veronica Sawyer, whose dreams of popularity finally start to come true when she’s taken under the wings of the three beautiful, yet impossibly cruel Heathers. But when mysterious teen rebel J.D arrives in town, Veronica realises that while it may kill to be a nobody, its sheer murder being a somebody…
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28.
Captured live on stage in its original London home, The Other Palace where the Heathers: The Musical made its U.K. debut in 2018, this electrifying, colourful production’s UK tour will also be travelling across the country this year!
Featuring book, music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominated, Legally Blonde composer, Laurence O’Keefe, and Emmy-winning Reefer Madness author Kevin Murphy, Heathers the Musical , there’s a lot of action, fun and laughter packed into the shows two hours, which despite its menacing overtones does carry an underlying message of hope which ultimately wins through.
There are also some pretty wonderful performances too, including a captivating lead in Ailsa Davidson as Veronica Sawyer, Simon Gordon as J.D., plus the wondrous trio of Maddison Firth as Heather Chandler, Vivian Panka as Heather Duke, Wales’ own Teleri Hughes as Heather McNamara and Mhairi Angus as Martha Dunnstock.
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28. 
A scene from The Other Palace West End version of Heathers – The Musical coming to cinemas across the UK on March 28.
The film, which has been created by Steam Motion and Sound, who are also currently working on screen captures of Waitress, Bonnie and Clyde and The Prince of Egypt, is directed by Andy Fickman and really puts the audience in the thick of the stage dynamics.
It can be argued that a cinema presentation is no substitute for the real performance. By cleverly filming the audience reactions as well as the stage presentation, it does give an atmosphere of what you can expect from a stage show.
There’s also the added bonus that this presentation has now being recorded for posterity. How many theatre fans were grateful during lockdown for recordings of stage shows that we couldn’t get to see because of isolation restrictions?
I have come away from many a theatre performance wishing I could see and enjoy a cast again. I do often wonder how many wondrous performances have been lost because no professional film recording exists. Such is the beauty and tragedy of live theatre!
This is a great opportunity for theatre fans who didn’t get to catch Heathers: The Musical at The Other Palace or even on stage on the last UK tour to finally sample what they’ve been missing – a dazzling spectacle of colour, energy and fun!
Heathers: The Musical will be in UK Cinemas for one night only on 28th March
- Book your tickets here: heathersmusicalfilm.co.uk