The depraved comedy “Heathers” (1989) has not mellowed with age. On the contrary, the movie’s acerbic description of deception, homicide and highschool cliques feels much more openly arch in our age of catfishing and banalized violence. Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe’s musical adaptation pulls its punches in comparison with the unique but it surely nonetheless has some chunk, and a quiver of nice songs. The present, which opened Off Broadway in 2014, has even acquired a global following of its personal — this Roku Channel seize, directed by Andy Fickman, was filmed in London’s West Finish in Might.
As within the film, nice-girl Veronica (Ailsa Davidson) enjoys a quick alliance with a trio of queen bees all named Heather and led by the imperial Heather Chandler (Maddison Firth) — they get the perfect quantity, the brilliantly glam-pop “Sweet Retailer.” Ultimately Veronica joins forces with J.D. (Simon Gordon), the manipulative loner who’s the musical’s largest casualty: the story hinges on him being unabashedly nihilistic however each the present and Gordon’s portrayal are too timid. Vivian Panka, then again, simply instructions middle stage as a robotically intense Heather Duke, and nails her solo, “By no means Shut Up Once more.” That new track is among the many modifications Murphy and O’Keefe have made because the New York model — some underlining Veronica’s company, others sanitizing a number of lyrics (although there are nonetheless wholesome helpings of the indispensable profanity). However regardless of these flashes of timidity and an overlong working time, the musical is a enjoyable romp with loads of, ahem, killer tunes.
Heathers: The Musical
Not rated. Working time: 2 hours 16 minutes. Watch on the Roku Channel.