(Brief disclaimer, this review of Heathers the Musical does contain references to teen suicide. Please be advised before reading).

Based on the 1989 movie of the same name by Michael Lehmann and Daniel Waters, “Heathers the Musical” strode with sass and satire when performed by the IW College students yesterday evening.

Their tutor, Mr Butcher earnestly began the show by stressing that this was a collaborative and student led production, with the programme listing the pupils filling out all the offstage roles as well as those onstage. I am delighted to say that this group pulled it off with aplomb.

They gave to the audience a fast paced and emotive musical featuring dark subject matter such as teen suicide, alienation, and the difficult relationships and lack of understanding parents have of how toxic high school friendship cliques can be.

I was proud of the way everyone on stage committed to the story they were telling, and throughout the show there was a real “need” and energy in their performances which carried the show. It’s heartening to see from the whole of a creative group.

Ruby A played Veronica, ably stepping into the role left by Winona Ryder. Veronica was every inch the misanthrope, whose sarcasm and despair at her life in school pushes her into making the deal with the devil, not only in joining the privileged queens of mean themselves, the Heathers, but also falling in love with the lost soul JD, who’s own dark bleak worldview starts causing harm to the people Veronica cares for. It is rare to see such an outpouring of emotion from a performer at the end of a show. Ruby A clearly was proud to have won this part, and that “need” to do it was evident in her powerful acting

Ruby A and Mona S, who was every inch JD in a dark trenchcoat quoting Baudelaire and slurping slushies, made a great pair onstage in terms of their performances, especially during the number “Our Love is God”. They had a natural chemistry together.

Ably playing alongside them were several bright acting talents in the chorus. Luke T and Elliot E’s highlight song about their “Dead Gay Son” despite the tragic context, turned the stage into a energetic joyous frenzy of dance and colour.

Michaela J played Mrs Fleming, a hippie teacher who was making television shows off the sensational news and Grace T, Lily J and Lewis L ably fleshed out the world of adults blind to how this was affecting their children and were always looking to cash in on their pain.

Ria S and Matilda M were a hoot as Kurt and Ram, the two bullying jocks that orbited the Heathers. Their banter, commitment to the role and enthusiastic dancing added levity, even in their deliberately uncomfortable song “You’re Welcome” which struck the right tone between ridiculousness and genuine fear for Veronica.

Ashley C and Zoe W as Heather Duke and Mac added sour and surly presences onstage, as well as being the co-director and choreographer. Their emotional arcs in the show were well portrayed by these two very capable young actresses who I can’t wait to see further develop their already flourishing skills.

Ember S, also Musical Director, had the biggest emotional gut punch moment of the night with their portrayal of Martha, as they sang the suicide note song “Kindergarten Boyfriend”. They carried it beautifully, a very well done indeed. The singing across the cast all round was delivered with real passion, and can only be bettered with further vocal coaching and work on projection.

Final praise however must go to Cally P who from the moment they stepped out the back of the stage, embodied and inhabited Heather Chandler perfectly to a T.

Cruel, crazy and dorkishly funny at times, she did not hold back a millisecond in her full throttle performance. She held audience focus even in the most crowded scenes, as well as co directing with Ashley C. One to watch indeed.

Grappling with such a difficult show in regards to tone, and featuring a very metaphor filled and poetic script could have been a challenge for this group. The students of the IW College more than rose to it. The college would benefit in further investing in these people’s performances on stage with the investment in some microphones to aid the occasional loss of diction when they are performing a musical.

Martha may have said “Veronica, you look like Hell”. But this production was anything but.