Heathers: The Musical - TRH / The Other Palace / @sohoplace

Is Ailsa directed the same way Christina was towards the end of the most recent West End run, or is this watchable?

Looks like Jodie is back on as Heather Chandler tomorrow:

I also attended last night. A great rush seat in the third row, which is the perfect level to view the show from. I was to the side and some of the staging is difficult from that angle, but I've seen the show a few times this year so I know it well.

This is always a fun uplifting show and a good way to improve my mood.

My first time seeing this since it has come back to the Other Palace. Heathers is really designed for a small venue so the Other Palace is the perfect place for it. The set fits properly on the stage (unlike the tour) and everything feels so much more intimate.

I liked Jacob as JD a lot. I also like the way they've toned the acting back down for the small venue (probably because the audience are up close, unlike at the West End or on tour). Only minor gripe would be the sound balance at times, but a lot of that is due to the position of the orchestra.

Thankfully, they've also toned down the picking on "Steve" to make this more playful again, rather than the way it had started to come across as vindictive recently. A hint for male audience members, I suspect those people who complete ignore the announcement at the start that masks are required in the venue are more likely to be chosen for the audience participation element.

It is a little strange seeing the show with only two male ensemble and lines reallocated, but it held together well. Great to see Jordan Cunningham on stage again in the ensemble. I can see he's been working out too, presumably for when he goes on in his cover role for Kurt, which I'd like to see (not that there is anything for the audience to complain about when George Maddison and Tom Scanlon parade around in their 80s underwear).

As others have said, Ailsa Davidson is excellent as Veronica and I think we'll hear a lot more from her in the future. This is a strong cast all around, even if you do have to suspect disbelief more than for many shows for them to pass as 17 year olds.

Last night's audience was very polite and appreciative, with just the right amount of whooping. A standard ovation for the full ensemble, which is always good to see. It is a shame the theatre was only a little over half full, but the pricing for this one is rather on the high side and they aren't making many Rush tickets available.

So far this year, I've seen four different JDs and four different Veronicas (across five visits to different versions of the production). Hopefully I can fit in one more of each before this closes.

Got one of those £15 tickets and last night i was checking twitter the whole day fully expecting a covid closure. Despite having a large cast it seems covid is kind to this show, all cast was there.

I can see why this has a teen fan base, i felt extremely old, everyone seemed young and beautiful compared to us.

Anyway, i enjoyed it, after all it's a dynamic show with, good music , all cast members are strong singers, etc.

I wish it would be a bit darker. Too much comedy somewhat makes it less strong.

I also caught this yesterday and loved it. All the Heathers were phenomenal, though all cast were excellent, Ailsa's Veronica took me a little time to warm to but her voice is fantastic and I was sold on her by the end. Definitely less goofy than many others.
Surprised to not have a single cover on given the situation with others shows, and that stage is so close to the front rows. No covid pass was asked for which also surprised me. I hope I get the chance to go back before the run ends - anyone know who covers Veronica?

I have seen this run four times already and I saw Jacob as JD three of those times and he really was fantastic! Freddie was off for quite some time but seems he is back swinging so I cannot wait to return in the new year to see him again. This cast is the strongest the show has had. I even managed to catch Hannah Lowther as Heather Chandler which was a real treat. I am still hopelessly in love with Ailsa’s Veronica. I have three more dates booked already but that may increase if more cover dates get announced!

Freddie King posted on Insta that he has tested positive for Covid. Presume other cast members too.

I get a feeling we will see a lot more in the next few days with other shows.
Actors travelled home for Christmas, pick up Covid from family members or other people they came into contact with whilst travelling.

 Emma Kingston & Kieran Brown have posted they also tested positive 

Saw this tonight and was thrilled to see Veronica being played as a human and not a marionette puppet. After the disastrous direction Christina got towards the end of the last Haymarket run (to be clear: I do NOT blame her for how dreadful it was because I saw her first show and it was great. I assume she received abysmal notes), I thought that was how Veronica was going to be played from now on. Thankfully Ailsa provided a much more relatable portrayal, and a gorgeous voice.
Some of the rest of the show is still suffering directorially, though. At times it feels very amateur. The cast themselves are, for the most part, very talented, but there are moments where they do things that seem very unnatural or awkward. The cheerleaders' costumes have also inexplicably had a major downgrade? It just felt a little like a school production at times. But I was too overjoyed by the 180 in Veronica direction that I let most of it slide. It's nice to once again be able to watch Heathers and not feel like self-combusting from how dreadful the portrayal the main character is.

Is this a definite fixed run or is there a chance of it extending?

Okay so I made another few trips to this show last week and my God, the show on Sunday truly was something special. Kayleigh McKnight made her Veronica debut and she was amazing. The crowd was electric and she got a well deserved standing ovation after I Say No. They also made Heathers history with both of the leads being played by their understudies for the first time ever. Jacob Fowler as JD really is a treat. I have watched him quite a few times in this run as Freddie has sadly been absent a lot and it has been really nice to see him grow into the role as his take on it is probably my favourite that I have ever seen. This cast truly is just fantastic and it will be a shame if this doesn’t get a transfer as it is too sad to think about it ending next month. This cast definitely deserves a much longer run. If you haven’t seen it yet and weren’t convinced by the previous Haymarket run, definitely go see this run. No matter who you have on, you are in for a fantastic show.

Christina Bennington got good feedback didn’t she?