Heathers – A First-Time Fever Dream
Written by Sabrina Popescu
Ok, I have to be honest: I had no idea what to expect from Heathers: The Musical when I went to see it last Friday. I’d seen the movie, but somehow still had it tangled in my head with Mean Girls or Clueless - maybe because of the high school setting and iconic outfits. I was mainly excited to see some familiar faces and curious about the new cast. What I didn’t expect was to be completely tied to my seat, Kleenex in hand.
The show opens with Veronica, a high school student at Westerberg High ,played by Vera Sophie Huibregtse, and I might be biased, but I couldn’t imagine a better Veronica for my first watch. She carries the role with quiet confidence: a teen who knows exactly who she is, and exactly who she has to become to survive. Vera shines from the start, drawing you into her world without ever overshadowing the strong supporting cast: Martha Dunnstock (Abegail Bercasio), Kurt Kelly (Yorgos Gerakianakis), Ram Sweeney (António De Souza), and a tight, talented ensemble.
Photo by @ikwildesign
And then… the Heathers arrive. Goosebumps.
Heather Chandler (Camille Gribbons) owns the stage, her entrance feeling like a power surge. Her choreography alone made me wonder if Dua Lipa’s been taking notes from Heathers. Heather McNamara (Mukti Murton) and Heather Duke (Brittany Sanders) are far from sidekicks - they’re both actresses who add texture and depth to their roles. You can’t help but wonder: Are they truly loyal to Chandler? Or just waiting for their moment?
Back to the jocks for a second - my oh my, Yorgos and António are a perfect match. Their dynamic is so naturally goofy and physical, you almost forget Veronica originally introduces them as "bullies without brains." They play off the audience beautifully and ground the show in that chaotic, hormonal high school energy. The kind that’s dumb, dangerous, and pretty familiar.
Photo by @ikwildesign
Then there’s JD, the new kid at Westerberg High, dressed head to toe in black. M Monteiro plays him with the perfect blend of mystery, charm, and a hint of danger. And yes, just like Veronica, you also have a crush now. His first exchange with Veronica, and Vera Sophie’s nervous giggles will be an instant throwback to your first high school crush, especially when it leads into their impulsive first date at the 7/11. (More on that later.)
If you know the story, you know what’s coming, but seeing it unfold live is a whole different ride. You start to see different sides of the Heathers. They give Veronica a makeover, then give her a lesson on the power dynamics at the school. And then there’s Candy Store. Camille Gribbons’ delivery is electric. Every note is a perfectly wrapped treat: sugarcoated, but designed to remind you who’s in charge.
Photo by Lennart Wong Photography
Mukti Murton’s vocals soften some of Chandler’s venom, but her performance is sharper than it first appears. There are moments, quick looks, pauses, where you realize she’s not just following orders. She wholeheartedly believes in them. Brittany Sanders is one of the biggest surprises of the show. As Heather Duke, she simmers under Chandler’s rule, visibly calculating her own rise. You feel the shift long before it happens.
Photo by Lennart Wong Photography
The ensemble? Unmissable. Their flinches, glances, synchronized reactions, it really feels like they are all part of one living organism. They amplify the chaos, the status shifts, the fear. But they also give us glimpses of each student’s internal world. Huge kudos to Sara Watts, Camille Gribbons, Shiro Mungai, and Justyna Borowiecka for making every second count, especially when the cast is in the background.
There are so many highlights, but I don’t want to give the story away (even if you know it already). Let me name a few:
“Dead Girl Walking” – Veronica’s seduction moment: kudos to both actors and Shiro Mungai’s intimacy coordination for capturing Veronica’s first act of rebellion, while still holding on to the innocence of teenage first love.
“The Me Inside of Me” – Veronica and JD’s revenge on Heather Chandler. This is where I saw a different side of the main Heather — more human, more revealing. She really just wanted to be liked
“You’re Welcome” – Kurt and Ram's gross plan to seduce Veronica. Again, Yorgos and António, my favourite duo. They play for laughs until they almost don’t. These two are so good at building the fun, especially in scenes running high with tension. Thanks to them, moments that could otherwise feel heavy are easier to carry
“Our Love Is God” and “Seventeen” – A perfect clash between JD getting scary and Veronica trying to find herself again and wanting normalcy. These moments are sweet and heartbreaking all at once, and M and Vera Sophie carry them so well together.
“My Dead Gay Son” – A moment of absurdity from the grown-ups. (Spoiler alert!) The parents of Ram and Kurt deliver a bizarrely joyful number after the boys are posthumously outed. Sean Olson-Roy as Kurt’s dad and Michael Schilder as Ram’s dad will make you laugh and cheer, even if the context isn’t exactly cheerful.
“Lifeboat” and “Shine a Light (Reprise)” – You see the other sides of Heather McNamara and Heather Duke. I love how Brittany Sanders (Heather Duke) takes over here, not your typical mean girl, and you don’t see it coming. But it’s been there all along, plotting in the background, unapologetically. Mukti Murton in Lifeboat: grab your tissues. Her performance will turn the bubbly Heather into a devastatingly human one.
“Kindergarten Boyfriend” – Abegail Bercasio as Martha Dunnstock, singing about heartbreak. What do you mean this is her musical theatre debut? There’s something devastatingly sincere in how Abegail plays Martha. It’s not loud, it’s honest. In her version of Kindergarten Boyfriend, you don’t watch her. You witness her.
“Shine a Light” and “Seventeen” – I’m putting these two together on purpose. I can’t stop thinking about the irony of adults not being able to protect these young kids, and the painful but hopeful revelation that comes with Seventeen. Kati Schulze plays the teacher who’s supposed to protect them, instead, she only really cares about herself in the end. The ensemble will make you reach for that Kleenex again. Sandrine Ott, Leire Rabenberg, Laura Maurer-Stroh, Neja Zrimšek Žiger - I have to call you out because you put so much heart into this performance. You deserve every bit of praise for it.
By the end, Heathers felt less like a musical and more like an emotional rollercoaster with perfect lighting cues. Actually, let me correct myself. Heathers is a professional musical produced by HEA, where you can tell that no detail has been overlooked. From the set decor, to the lights, to the band led by musical director Michael Crowley.
One more mention here: I really liked the entrance of the band between the two parts of the show. Heathers has wrapped its summer run, but you better go see it when they return in September. Why? Because it’s ridiculous, funny, honest, and strangely hopeful. You leave the theatre a little more aware of the masks people wear in high school… and maybe the ones we still carry.