HEATHERS at The Other Palace - Review | my thoughts on the graduating class of Westerburg High

[@giadac.4406]

Hannah Lowther’s Heather Chandler is absolutely amazing. Having seen both her and Emma in the role, I have to say I prefer Hannah as HC.

[@Gadzooks79]

I find it sad that in the last couple of casts the Martha understudy hasn’t been plus sized, leaving the person playing Martha to be the only plus size performer in the cast :(. If the role is plus sized, surely the understudy should be too.

[@antheiheiant]

I hate to break it to you, but the only not plus size person to ever play Martha was Rachel. Bayley and Mary-Jean are very much plus sized. The fact that you're trying to gatekeep that is like... kinda weird? Also, the OG Revival cast at TOP had a plus sizes Ensemble member.

[@jennapatchkeady]

I absolutely agree!! It's so important to keep that representation, especially with so few plus size roles existing in that industry as it is. The role is about her being a plus size woman, and without that being reflected in the performer it becomes inauthentic. Of course that's not even to begin to discuss how a non plus size preformer in that role is an insult to that community which has faced a lot of very real struggles, and that kind of makes a mockery of that community to put a non plus size performer in a role that is very specifically plus size, and so imbedded in the storyline and character. I'm sorry also that you've gotten a rude comment down below, most the other Marthas I've seen have been wonderful plus size performers who are all amazing, and you are most definitely not gate keeping, you are raising a very valid and important point while trying to protect and empower a marginalized community. Much love to you, you're awesome, stay incredible!!!!! 💕💕

[@poopy5001]

@@jennapatchkeady exactly!!

[@jennapatchkeady]

@@poopy5001 Yeeeees supporting comments!! 😁💕💕 Thank you, you're incredible!!!!!

[@hannahbrayford6870]

@@antheiheiant MJ is not plus size at all wtf ??? and neither is bayley

[@gaia6533]

I saw Maddison Firth as Heather Chandler last weekend and she was honestly amazing, she fit the role so well, like she was the right amount of bitchy and sassy and sarcastic and her vocals were just amazing, i’m so happy i went to see Heathers

[@cynosure2]

Hannah and Inez are probably my favourite cast members and some of my favourite musical theatre actors overall. Inez is a legendary Duke and how Hannah has played all 3 Heathers is literally insane. I’m so happy they’re in SIX together again.

[@_DanielOConnor]

I agree with you about Emma Kingston! She's undeniably talented but Chandler didn't feel like the role for her. Her performance was a lot more subtle than Steele's (and also Maddison Firth). When I first saw Heathers at the Haymarket last summer, Chandler was my favourite character because of Steele's hilarious portrayal. At The Other Palace, Chandler fell into the background. Good on Kingston for trying to be more nuanced and less of a caricature...but that's not Heather Chandler. Looking forward to see what she moves on to!

[@blake4604]

I saw Jacob Fowler as JD in Cardiff today- what a voice!

[@natcatpalmtree]

I saw him in Guildford and him and Jenna were the best Veronica and JD I’ve seen

[@Glindaful]

Just saw them before the cast change and agree in almost all points. Shine a light was the best, Jacob as JD was really shockingly bloody brilliant and his voice was butter! Also Heather D was so energetic. Agree that the diversity was missing and I wish for more plus sized peeps onstage. And more nuanced portray of Veronica. Her vocals were stunning though so I didn't mind her acting too much haha. Lobe your videos!

[@Amy-zq5kn]

I didn't know you could get front row with Heathers Rush! Every time I try I get the back few rows exclusively!

[@Amy-zq5kn]

Also tbh I found Lizzie Beas Kindergarten Boyfriend fell way short of Madison Swan. The belty bit isn't powerful and the oohs don't hit the same 😔

[@nathanwilliams1051]

Saw it tonight for the first time and I loved it! Agree about the lack of diversity though, that stood out for me too. There's quite a few roles that could have gone to black people - the nerdy guy, the muscly jocks. Still I think I have a new album for my spotify!

[@DrurylaneEntertainers]

In my opinion, it should be about who's best for the role, not their race, size, etc. An audience typically cares more about a good performance than the actor/actress's appearance

[@DanielMazz]

Really enjoy your videos what cast did u prefer this one or the one last summer I still watch river dale. That theatre must be amazing front row. And I looked on website tickets are expensive but extremely cheap for a west end show

[@idogonen3075]

I think my main issue with this production had nothing to do with the performers. I felt that the direction of it was all wrong. Part of the beauty of musical comedy is that you don't need to push the comedy down the audience's throat with a shovel, but more let it happen. I feel that the performers were directed to ham it up, add gags upon gags and make it utterly ridiculous. What it resulted in was a well-written and well-scored show feel like a bit of a panto. As if the performers were making fun of the characters instead of living their truths. And that's a shame. Also I think that it's a mush darker story than this production allowed itself to be, but that's just my preference...

[@danilouise505]

You’re so right! I saw Heathers on Tuesday so probably a much different cast to this video (I haven’t really read up on this production that much, I’m just on holiday from Australia) and tbh I probably should have done a bit of research because I was pretty disappointed! I thought they all sung the pants off of the show but some of the directional choices..I don’t know I didn’t think were the strongest by any means, and so many moments weren’t allowed to breathe so jokes didn’t land or were missed entirely. It just kinda felt like they were trying to be so different from everyone else’s version that all of the nuance and humour got sucked out of the show. But, just my opinion! I’ve seen Heathers 8 times back home and this wasn’t it for me!

[@cassandrabellingham8486]

I’ve only recently started going to musical theatre in person and wondered if there is always such an issue with sound quality? I saw this production and could only make out a third of the lyrics. As I was not familiar with the music or film so missed a lot of the gags and references.

[@mayli9199]

I definitely agree with this whole review except emma not being fully immersed in the role, you mentioned jodie being the best chandler and i actually thought emma was so much funnier because she wasn’t constantly trying to get a laugh like jodie because jodie just made me cringe… like ALOT but emma was balanced but serious at times she needed to be serious, but then again that’s just my opinion!

[@JP-uk4rk]

I completely agree with you. I’ve seen them both multiple times. I thought Emma Kingston was so funny because she was more subtle and tongue-in-cheek. I found myself laughing at parts that I had never laughed at in the previous 5 times that I had seen the show because of Emma’s colder Chandler.

[@mayli9199]

@@JP-uk4rk Exactly!! All the other chandlers ive seen were all great and talented of course, But emma made heather into how i felt heather chandler truly was she wasn’t obnoxiously funny. She was cold and sarcastic and funny at the right times when she needed to be funny i thought she played the character perfectly

[@natashakingston8302]

I've never seen it. What's the plot?

[@chloelouise7743]

It’s set in a high school In 1989, Westerburg high school has a lot of cliques, and the heathers rule the school, they’re 3 girls (H Chandler, H Macnamera, H Duke). Veronica is a outcast originally however at the very start and the first song the heathers make her like them, she makes her act like them dress like them etc. Veronica meets a new boy called Jason Dean (JD for short) and he’s mysterious and she likes him, however he’s not all that he seems… I don’t want to give away too much cause it kind of ruins the plot I’ll reply again with a link to the West End 2018 version bootleg with Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jamie Muscato, I’d highly recommend watching it

[@chloelouise7743]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6rJh5ufjqecq8U This is part 1 the other parts are on the channel :)

[@DisabledAtDisney]

Why are Heather’s always cycling through cast so fast?

[@ChrissieInWonderland]

Because they keep extending the run so a lot of cast members can't stay on.

[@johnnynotty]

Naked men…I’m sold

[@Lols771]

wtf

[@thomasconnolly6742]

Tom Scanlon……. That’s it thats the comment

[@fashionablechangeling2003]

Nice

[@monkeyhall5149]

I agree

[@andreassandalpetersen1325]

When did you see it?