A powerhouse student production delivering standout vocals, sharp comedy and unforgettable performances.
On Jan. 23, Laurier’s Musical Theatre (LMT) group presented a stellar rendition of Heathers, the musical. Heathers is a black comedy musical that satirizes the experience of the average American teen; it is a thrilling, dark and hilarious production.
A major highlight of the show was the incredible vocal talent of the cast. Aylish Betts, who played Veronica Sawyer, and Laz Dimoglou, who played JD. Both delivered brilliant performances that left the audience stunned. Betts and Dimoglou stole the show with their vocal chemistry in several duets, especially Our Love Is God, the final song of Act One, which left the room breathless with its intensity.
Beyond their vocal, both Betts and Dimoglou impressed with performances that felt worthy of a Broadway stage. Betts carried the show from start to finish, setting the tone with her performance of the opening song Beautiful, where she hit the strongest high note of the night.
Equally impressive were the Heathers themselves: Lucy Bolton as Heather Chandler, Valentina Santarossa as Heather Duke and Uno Presscott as Heather McNamara. “Shockingly enough, this is not my first time playing a bitch,” said Bolton when asked about her approach to Chandler’s character.
“My biggest advice to playing the mean-girl role is to have fun with it, make it camp, and get ridiculous. It makes it so much fun!” She added that she was particularly proud of her performance in Candy Store and gave special thanks to the choreographers.
Each of the Heathers had a moment to shine. Santarossa killed with her rendition of Never Shut Up Again, while Presscott silenced the audience with the well -known number Lifeboat.
There is also much praise to give to Gus Bolton and Madison McGuire, who played Ram and Kurt. They sent the audience cry-laughing with their physical comedy and chemistry, fully committing to their characters in a hilarious way. One of the most striking moments came during the boys’ deaths. I had chills during McGuire’s death and was impressed by how the pair handled such a difficult scene.
A standout performance of the night came from Zakia Selim, with her emotional performance of Kindergarten Boyfriend. The audience sat breathless throughout the ballad, and she was undoubtedly a highlight of the evening.
The ensemble was strong throughout both acts, bringing engaging background comedy and polished musical performances. And a special note goes to the live band in the pit, particularly the guitarist, who helped set the atmosphere with a haunting rendition of Our Love Is God.
The final element worth noting is the show’s set design. Madi Chong, who led set design, said she drew much of her inspiration from the original 1989 film, which was reflected in the moody, dramatic backdrops and lighting choices. Emma Keppel-Jones, the show’s producer and visionary, shared her pride in the production, saying, “I’m really proud of how the show turned out, and proud of my team for working so hard to bring it to life.”
Contributed Photo/ Margo Norcliffe
