Personally, I think Heathers has been falling into the same trap of mean girls where in each new ‘production’ (remount), they keep cleaning it up more and more and it’s just hurting the story. Part of the reason I am an off Broadway “purist” as some people like to say is because it had that gritty dark comedy tone and really felt grounded and realistic, despite the insanity of its plot. They keep making changes and making the costumes brighter and making it feel way more stereotypical 80s than actual 80s (just like the jump in Stranger Things from season two to season three)

Plus while I do understand why they changed away from Blue, and think that it was generally a good choice, You’re Welcome makes me not understand why Veronica feels more guilt over Kurt and Ram then she does Heather Chandler. The fact that Kurt and Ram are drunk and Veronica is lured there by Duke and McNamara in Blue is seemingly a large reason why she feels as guilty about their deaths as she does. I don’t get why she would feel worse about their deaths when them trying to attack her was a conscious fully sober choice than with Chandler just being a bitch. I don’t believe that my dead gay son would give her that much pause. I think when they added, you’re welcome they needed to change more of that plot line to make it truly fit than they did.

Plus, I don’t like the fact they changed Duke from being written specifically as Korean (she spoke Korean in the original show, even if it was for a joke) to the token black character and making her have the ‘loud and angry’ song… it feels like because of the West End production and that change the Heathers are consistently two white girls and one black girl. When instead it would’ve been really cool to consistently have them all be different races and have Duke speak in whatever language matched the ethnicity of the actress playing her. Plus, they should’ve kept Duke‘s verse in big fun as it gave so much more depth to her character and would’ve actually set up never shut up again better.

I really hope that soon we will be able to get a new production that gets to make some changes such as adding back the verse in big fun, Duke speaking in her native language, tightens up Kurt and Ram’s storyline to fit the plot, brings back the real 80s elements from the Australian production and more things like that.

I saw a student-led production that double cast Ram and Kurt as their dads which gave Dead Gay Son number an added punch. I would really to see a darker, mroe sardonic tone, really lean into JD and Veronica as teenage Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett.

They sanitised my baby and I will not stand for it
BRING BACK THE OFF BROADWAY SCRIPT AND SOUNDTRACK

I feel like almost every production has been kinda trying to be the same as the west end revival, i honestly wish some productions of Heathers was more like the 2014 and honestly even the original australia production (love the dance break in candy store) and i kinda wish the Heathers would look more like they did in 2014, cause ever since Heathers came to the west end, every Heathers trio has looked almost the same, thats just my opinion tho

I think it's starting to suffer from over exposure - we've had simultaneous west end & UK tours for the last 6 years - and the pro shot. It hasn't been away for long enough to be missed - especially as this is the same production with no new input. The way it constantly pops up in any london theatre with a space is starting to feel like - "well shove heathers in as that will do" which feels like it's spoiling it's own value.

The evolution kind of reminds me of Be More Chill off-Broadway vs. Broadway. Taking something that was relatable to a lot of teenagers because it was relatively understated and small and because the humor appealed to their sensibilities, and then once it goes viral enough to expand thinking "bigger stage" means "more camp and exaggerated"

haven't finished the video yet but I've always had really mixed feelings about heathers the musical.

as an adaptation, it's shit. it's kind of like the film adaptation of cabaret. it completely misses the meaning of the source material in a way that is frustrating to me. heathers the musical misunderstands heathers so badly. it doesn't hit nearly as hard as the film for me and is much less wacky in my opinion. what bothered me the most was kurt and ram harassing veronica instead of them assaulting heather mcnamara. it's so frustrating. i dont mean to traumadump but as a survivor of that sort of thing it feels so inappropriate. like it's just a plot device to give veronica a reason to kill kurt and ram and not something that is ACTUALLY explored. it's like it doesn't even affect veronica and was just there to give us a reason to hate the two. i dont know how to explain my feelings on it properly but it just rubs me so wrong. i also really REALLY really hate the newer productions and how they all forget that this story takes place in the 80s.

as a musical on its own, it's a fun little thing. the songs are fun and most of the time the acting is very good. i used to be obsessed with it when it first came out.  i really love how veronica is characterized as more of an awkward girl just thrown in the spotlight. very fun

I've had this complaint in the comments of another channel, so forgive me for doing it twice, but there's something about actually going to see Heathers that I can't stand. Primarily, the audience. I went to see the first production at The Other Palace, and quite frankly I've never had a musical audience like it - in a bad way. The entirety of the crowd had clearly absorbed the cast recording so many times that the entire theatre would erupt in rapturous screaming whenever a song they liked was *starting*. Not during the end of songs, when applause is expected - right over the first lyrics of the songs. To say I've never had a more distracting show due to the behaviour of an entire crowd would be pretty accurate. The proshot also had a little bit of this behaviour, although it was more subdued - people were still screaming for the starts of songs they liked, so I know I wasn't going crazy. What I'm most curious about is whether this is still happening all of these years later?

Great thoughts as always!! I was just a bit too old when Heathers came out to become properly ~obsessed~. I’ve known the score & bootleg for years, but only recently saw it in person (off-Broadway). My thoughts on the casting were a bit reversed – I loved Kuhoo Verma as Veronica and Casey Likes as JD. (Admittedly, some of their choices were quite camp, but that made it fun to watch!)

I think it’s okay if a show only reflects a certain time (I firmly believe Legally Blonde is an early-2000s period piece and should be directed as such). But the things that make Heathers unique and give it an edge are often uncomfortable or distasteful/difficult for audiences to enjoy (Kurt and Ram’s misogyny, everyone’s cruelty), so the show gets sanded down more and more. Which is a shame; the concept is so wonderfully dark and that’s definitely rare to see explored onstage.

Another show that’s calmed a bit for me is Book of Mormon, simply because I’ve seen it so many times. When you know “Joseph Smith American Moses” by heart, it doesn’t quite have the same effect XD

one of my biggest pet peeves with the more recent productions is the lazy hairstyles with the mcnamara short bob and chandler ponytails, i miss the blowouts!

It takes the right cast. Saw the AUS production yesterday, it is complete, pure perfection.

Know this might seem like a weird idea but wait atleast 5 years for heathers to come back and maybe do a Jamie Lloyd reimagined of it where the score is able to shine as I like heathers score

I just need to say I really appreciate the intro

I was blinded by high school nostalgia and bought tickets without looking into the musical's current state 😅 Oh well, might as well give it a shot. Will be my first time watching a musical live, actually. I can't wait for January, I believe it'll be their first run in Asia 💙 Cheers from the Philippines, good video!

Heather Duke gets a 1 month detention instead of getting suspended due to bullying Heather McNamara during the televised healing session.

I've not seen Heathers however I enjoy the soundtrack; what are your thoughts on the song "Blue"? Admittedly it's part of my car playlist..

I think you didn't focus on you aging out of it enough, because as you noted the actual teens in the audience loved it. I bet you were the same back then while those who were older felt the way you do now, a big criticism of heathers when it was new was the camp sanitizing the themes of the film. Since you've seen it so many times and no longer directly relates to the show it's a lot easier to notice what is wrong with it.

I still love heathers I just prefer the old cast

I just saw it. For me, it’s mind blowing that there is no trigger warnings before it started. There are so many heavy topics that the audience should be advised about before they see it.

The new venue looks interesting 🤨 perhaps not in a good way
Heard bad things
Not sure if I will be able to cope with distracting noises