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

I think the band are upset at the complete lack of communication and respect. Unfortunately, a bit like acting, there will always be someone desperate /ambitious enough to take on the job at a rate lower than is acceptable and so the cycle of poor pay conditions continue.
I do find it interesting though that no one seems to have took up the cudgels for the musicians whereas if this was actors there would be a furore. Another example of how musicians are not respected in the industry.

This is largely sold out now until cast change. I did manage to get a rush ticket to yesterday's matinee and consider myself lucky. Everyone was on fine form and there was so much more energy in the crowd than the last time I saw Heathers.

I was particularly fortunate to see George Renshaw as JD, who was easily the best person to perform in the role since Ben left. A nice voice, consistent accent and he played an angry and aggressive JD.

Tobias Turley is still away. I hope he gets to return before cast change. In his place, we hit the jackpot with Tom Scanlon as Kurt, who looked like he'd never been away from the show (and had spent even more time in the gym). What is even more impressive is he used to play Ram, not Kurt! Well done, Tom.

Some of the fans did attempt to start mid-show standing ovations, but it's still a little early. With that said, Erin sounded as good as I've ever heard her being. I'm sure cast change next Sunday will be electric.

There will be musicians, as they've appointed an MD. It just won't be the musicians who appeared on the filmed version in cinemas. The ones who saved the day so many times doing extra rehearsals to put in last minute cast replacements. The ones who, like every other department, were expecting their contracts to be renewed as is the norm in the west end, but now won't be because the producers need the money for the proposed Equity pay rise. And I'm sure it'll sound fine with a new band who have had less than a week to learn the show.

But I'm sure with the money he's saving he'll lower ticket prices soon.

After all, he's not paying any rent on the theatre!

West End deps sit in to watch the musician, then take the pad away with a recording.  They normally spend about 2 weeks learning the show, then sit in again to check they've not missed anything.  From that point on they can be called upon.

I didn’t managed to rush successfully today, so hope anyone there for cast change enjoys. Do report back!

I'm really excited for the new cast (with respect to the exiting cast that is, because I absolutely loved them!). I am in London next week for a day but have a nice double of BTTF and The Burnt City already booked so couldn't squeeze in a Heathers. Will certainly do so by the end of March though.

I did try to pick up a ticket for yesterday but was too late, you did well to get them in, well played!

All that’s been said is that him and Nate were out due to medical reasons.

Wow, incredible!

I've seen two new casts of Heathers this week (the tour cast and the new Other Palace cast). They are both very different and both give the show a new lease of life.

I was at the matinee Rush yesterday to see the almost unheard of situation with a full cast (although one person is on stage very little, I guess there just isn't room for them).

The two new leads are both excellent in their own right and both complement each other perfectly. Miracle plays Veronica very differently to anyone else I've seen, the best word I have to use is hyperactive. If you ever saw her as Christine in Be More Chill, there's a big overlap with her Veronica. With some actors this wouldn't work, but Miracle is very funny and engaging with it. Ellis as JD sounds great, has the JD look I think works best, doesn't dominate physically but is able to take control. I regret now that I never got to see his Evan Hansen.

I won't single out the rest of the cast at this point, but apart from the continuing Lewis Asquith and the returning Elliot David Parkes, I think everyone else is new. They're all very fluent. There was a couple of line flubs, but nothing major and everyone kept going so most people wouldn't even notice this.

The new band are in. They sound good, but the sound is different. The tour has (if I counted correctly) a 6 piece band. The Other Palace band now, to my untrained ears, is a 3 piece. Hopefully someone will clarify, correct me, or tell me it's always been like that. They're certainly doing their best and, like the actors, looking to put their own stamp on things.

The amusing anecdote of the afternoon has to go to the young couple sat in the show behind. I don't intentionally listen, but often it's impossible not to hear. She clearly knew the show well, he hadn't spent much time in theatres. It was mostly teasing, preparing him to be Steve (even though he was far too young), asking him his favourite girl and boy in the cast (Martha, which the girlfriend took as a personal reference, and he was not into guys but would "do the guy in the checked trousers"). I'm not expecting this to lead to a Heather's themed wedding.

What more can I say? Excellent all around and I think this is the cast change the show needs to keep it running at The Other Palace for at least another year or two.

Anyone interested in seeing the film screening it’s available for free on Sky VIP

Sat in the cinema waiting for the Sky VIP screening to begin. Very well attended! (Was free after all) proper mix of people be interested to see the reaction!

I managed to catch a (rare?!) full cast for this last week and was really quite impressed with the new cast. It feels as though they've breathed new life into it and I enjoyed much more than the previous cast, who were all fine but nothing particularly special for me. I'm not sure if there is new direction or if the changes are all down to new actors interpretations but it felt quite different and much funnier in many places.
I liked everyone to varying degrees but the standouts were: Miracle, who took me a beat to get used to but was just a ball of energy and fun. Olivia, who was a fierce and sometimes terrifying Heather Chandler, I was surprised to see this was her debut. And Ellis who I think might be my favourite JD at this point, quite different to those I've previously seen, but really wonderful.

I'm not a fan of some of the practices going on behind the scenes and I know lots of people like to complain the theatre should be freed up, but taken for what it is, I had a great time and would be sorry to see it go just yet (which I would not have said up until this cast).