Heathers: The Musical - U.K. Tour (Again!)

[unseaworthy]

Oct 10, 2024 19:07:52 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

I can only speak for when I saw it at TR Haymarket and there was a lot of cat calling going on.

I wonder if the audience members know the people they are cat calling are supposed to be teenagers.... 

[Dr Tom]

Tour prices have got so expensive now that I hadn't prebooked, but I finally decided to grab a ticket for tonight, sadly at the back corner of the Stalls, but at least it's affordable. I doubt I'll get to any other venues. I would have gone to Oxford, but I'll be away with work. Hopefully, this cast will get another London run.

Whatever anyone may say about this show, the tour has sold well (excluding the Wednesday matinee - which is perhaps unsurprising as most of the target audience are busy - myself included otherwise I would have gone to that show). Parts are problematic, but you can say that about most shows. I've always had a problem with the mobility scooter scene being played for laughs, often right in front of wheelchair users, but there you go). The sex scene is also uncomfortable if sat too close, but the cheering when Veronica's bra gets exposed is almost exclusively from the female members of the audience. I try and not read too much into these things.

[Dr Tom]

For anyone wondering, Friday night was as excellent as usual. My corner seat was nice and private, with the sound booth behind, but no one immediately in front, so a very clear view, if slightly further back than I would like. A pretty full theatre.

I knew I was in the right place as I walked past a girl (who looked to be about 10) in blue school uniform, accompanied by who I would guess were mum and gran. I always wonder what they make of it all. There was also an older male couple wearing their school blazers and having a great time. They reminded me a lot of Gilbert and George. So good to see this appealing to such a wide demographic.

[r3nnrose]

Since nobody has posted on here in quite a while, I think I’ll contribute with my experience seeing the show a couple of weeks ago. It was my 25th time seeing Heathers overall, and May Tether and Eliza Bowden were on as Veronica and Heather MacNamara respectively. I believe it was their first show on as covers together. They were both absolutely phenomenal, May’s Veronica is very tough and sarcastic and works incredibly well alongside Keelan’s JD, and Eliza brought a real sense of nuanced maturity to Heather M that I hadn’t seen before, which made her portrayal seem like an actual mean, albeit struggling teenage girl instead of the usual innocent, do-no-wrong type Mac’s that I’m used to seeing.

However, I had a few very irritating over-enthusiastic fans a couple of rows in front of me which did hinder the experience a bit (They were full on screaming in applause breaks, and tried to start a standing ovation after I say no, which failed miserably and only blocked people’s views), but asides from them being irritating the show was absolutely phenomenal. I headed around to the stage door after it was over, and it was incredibly hectic and overwhelming and filled with the gaggles of overexcited teenage girls, and as a fan of the show I find it very hard making it apparent that I’m separate from those types of people

But the stage door chaos and the screaming whenever somebody came out aside, something very very cool happened then, Keelan actually recognised me from going so much and gave me the petition from Meant to be Yours! I’ll post it in here eventually if anyone is wondering what it actually says in person. I’m planning to get it framed. Overall it was a really really fun show, and I can’t wait to go again on closing night of the tour!!

[r3nnrose]

Okay, update from a few days after closing night— it seems a lot like it’ll be back. Why are we even surprised at this point?! PTM was hinting on socials a few days ago and the cast were reassuring a group of crying shaking fans that gave me super bitchy entitled “they love us more than you” vibes at stage door that it would be coming back.

[properjob]

I assume Heathers is by some margin the biggest commercial hit they have had in the other palace? Is I wonder if that means they will keep putting it on for runs there to make some money to cover losses on other musicals they try out there until they find another hit.

Alternatively or possibly in addition, because they can make the show work in such a small venue it has potential to tour into smaller regional theatres that don't usually get musicals if of course they can make the economics work. E.g. this most recent tour went into the Oxford Playhouse which I belive normally has plays.

Having said all that I suspect they want to get New York up and running first.

[r3nnrose]

Nov 27, 2024 8:30:21 GMT properjob said:

I assume Heathers is by some margin the biggest commercial hit they have had in the other palace? Is I wonder if that means they will keep putting it on for runs there to make some money to cover losses on other musicals they try out there until they find another hit.

Alternatively or possibly in addition, because they can make the show work in such a small venue it has potential to tour into smaller regional theatres that don't usually get musicals if of course they can make the economics work. E.g. this most recent tour went into the Oxford Playhouse which I belive normally has plays.

Having said all that I suspect they want to get New York up and running first.

Ohhh yeah that makes sense. I’m just not sure what they’re planning for New York or how long it’ll take. I feel like it will be a limited run off broadway (6–12 weeks maybe??) and I don’t understand why after the other palace run finished last year they can’t really have to seem it run consistently anymore? I know it thrives in short bursts but it's more than popular enough to take up space in a smallish west end theatre for a few years imo. I’ll give it a few months, they’ll announce something else in the UK officially soon enough.