Heathers the Musical

Heathers kicks off Community Theatre’s 2021 year with a bang. A very strong production that bursts with life and colour is thrilling Wanneroo Repertory’s audiences at the Limelight Theatre.

Musically strong, under the musical direction of Madeleine Innes and Taui Pinker, singing is superb, with great harmonies especially from ’the Heathers’, and beautiful full sound. The musical directors alternate conducting an impressive seven piece band. Mikes were a little uncertain and uneven on the night I attended, but strong voices ensured that nothing was missed.

Heroine Veronica Sawyer is gorgeously played by Jennifer Gadeke, acing her second ever community theatre role, as a Veronica that is convincing and genuine in this unlikely universe. A beautifully sung and acted with depth performance. She works very well with Charlie Darlington, who brings brooding talent and an element of danger to anti-hero JD.

Fabulous teamwork from the Heathers. Picture perfect (Joan Braskic and Lorraine Jones’ costumes play homage to the movie - with ‘traditional’ use of colour and a celebration of 1988), the Heathers move as a posse and have formidable presence. Grace Johnson looks and sounds beautiful, but is quite terrifying as the queen-bee Heather Chandler, newly blonde Erin Craddock is a joy to watch as the very complex Heather McNamara, with Charlotte Louise charting an excellent journey as Heather Duke.

Caitlin Easton is a lovely Martha Dunstock, with a warm, likeable presence, embodying this awkward teen nicely. Ellie Hart-Peterson delivers two very different but impressive performances as Ms Fleming and Veronica’s Mum. Riley Merigan and Matthew Walford work together well, in strong performances as bullies Ram and Kurt. Their fathers are very nicely played by Jason Pearce and Matthew Winter, who also play a myriad of other roles.

A strong ensemble provides colour and verve, sing well and execute Aleisha Archer’s high energy choreography with precision. The show moves swiftly thanks to stage crew dressed as custodial staff - a fun and effective touch.

The single set, suggesting Westerburg High, used trucks and lighting (design by Ashlee Torrens and Emily Smith) to suggest multiple locales.

The Covid-capacity audience was very obviously rapt in this show - with reactions to the surprises shortly before interval - very strong.

Almost impossible to get a seat for this one, and despite the themes of the show, it’s probably best not to kill your friends to get one. People who manage to get a ticket will love this stand-out production.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Dana Weeks