Heathers the Musical brings a deliciously dark chaos to Auckland

How very! Heathers: The Musical is ready for some big fun. The show is open for a criminally short five day season here in Tāmaki Makaurau after an incredible reception from audiences across Australia and around the Motu! 

The production started its run this past April at the Playhouse in Melbourne, and has been touring across Australia and New Zealand since then. With sold out shows across multiple theatres, it's safe to say it's been one big, beautiful season!

Directed by Andy Fickman, and with a fresh cast of Australian and Kiwi talent, the production is deliciously dark and incredibly camp, quite literally putting the laughter in manslaughter. The dry humour paired with phenomenal scoring and set design puts this tour a cut above the rest. That, alongside the cult classic following of the show brought fans from all over in their Candy Store best, with a range of phenomenal looks inspired by the Heathers. 

I first saw Heathers when it opened in 2018 at The Other Palace, with Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica and Jamie Muscato as JD. I was incredibly excited to see this reimagining, complete with additional songs I hadn’t heard before, including Veronica’s power ballad I Say No.

I was floored by the performances. Emma Caporaso brings strength along with a gentle awkwardness that perfectly sells Veronica’s troubled teen persona. Her rendition of Dead Girl Walking feels not just defiant but brazen, drunkenly confident, and is a performance that really showcases the awkward charm of her character. But don’t be fooled. Behind the awkward persona is a girl ready to fight for what’s right.

Mackenzie Htay’s performance as JD is inspired. He is a mysterious loner, desperate for connection yet numb to the consequences of his actions. It becomes very clear that JD isn’t as cool as he presents himself to be, and Htay’s portrayal leaves no doubt that this version of the character is not another edgy guy for teens to idolise. He is a scared and angry little boy with control and abandonment issues. His beautifully soft rendition of Seventeen reminded me of Elliott Smith or Radiohead in true sad boy fashion. During Our Love Is God (Reprise), the moment when he holds Veronica from behind, towering over her as his face darkens, is bone chilling.

Further standout performances came from Kiwi performers Calista Nelmes as Heather Chandler, who blew the roof off the Civic with Candy Store and created the ultimate high school mean girl, yet somehow someone I found myself silently rooting for after her unfortunate demise as she acts as a voice of conscience for Veronica throughout the rest of the show. Amelia Rojas, as Heather Duke, is the epitome of a pick me girl until she leaps at the chance to become the queen bee, claiming her crown, or rather her red scrunchie, with a powerhouse performance of Never Shut Up Again. I actively sobbed during Mel O’Brien’s heartbreaking yet breathtaking rendition of Kindergarten Boyfriend as Martha Dunstock, and cackled multiple times at the antics of Nic Van Lits as Kurt Kelly and David Cuny as Ram Sweeney, the show's signature duo.

Heathers is only at the Civic in Auckland until June 14 before continuing its journey back to Australia. So step into the Candy Store while there’s still time.