By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The Escapees Theatre Company’s latest darkly comic musical Heathers carries a timely message, says director Sharnika Takacs.
Set in the late 1980s, this adaptation deals with a nasty clique of three girls sharing the name Heather and a misfit who wishes to join them.
“The Heathers are a stereotype of every popular girl clique in very school across the world,” Ms Takacs says.
“They are mean but for some reason everyone still loves them.
“Everyone knows a group of girls who are like this in one way or another, and that is why the story will be rinsed and repeated over and over for years.”
The Hallam-based Escapees troupe describes the show as an “all-singing, all-dancing and all-murdering” work.
“Heathers has so many elements of a typical teen comedy and deals with some very serious topics in a very unique way and I love that,” Ms Takacs says.
“Something about pairing intense truths about society and upbeat musical numbers really just works.”
It’s amusing to look back at the different school norms depicted from 1989.
“Things that were once so common are now frowned upon. Teachers walking around the school smoking for instance.
“You would never even consider it today.”
There’s also an innate desire to see a character rise up against bullies in their life.
“Heathers takes an unrealistic journey to show what can happen when people are pushed too far by others,” Ms Takacs says.
“And what can happen when just one person shows they care.”
The musical is not recommended for children under 15, due to coarse language and adult themes.
Heathers is at Hallam Community Theatre, 74 Frawley Road, Hallam on October 10-13, 7.30pm. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/404013
