Spotlight on Westerberg High bully triumvirate, the three Heathers

On stage in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts this weekend is the Alliance Youth Theater’s production of Heathers the Musical. It is a spirited, sprightly musical that features strong vocals, complex choreography, youthful enthusiasm and a troubling albeit timely theme not at all in keeping with the holiday season. It’s clear that the 31 students who comprise Heathers’ cast have bought into Carmen Crussard’s energetic direction and Christopher Dean Anderson’s creative choreography (complete with slow-mo and freeze-frame segments that underscore the action).

Every good story requires a terrific antagonist, and Heathers the Musical has four exceptional villains. Three of them just happen to go by the name of Heather. Unattainable and unaffected, they are the it-girls who reign Westerberg High School through a combination of intimidation, humiliation and ridicule. In a word, they are bullies. Beautiful, desirable and tres chic, everyone looks at them with envy and desire, and that feeds their narcissism. They think like being looked up to, expect everyone to behave according to their wishes, and have delight in their classmates’ misery and belittlement. Their names are Heather Chandler (the Red Queen), Heather McNamara (Yellow Heather) and Heather Duke (Green Heather).

But, really, how bad can they be?

Well, let’s visit their candy store, and you can see:

CHANDLER: Are we gonna have a problem? You got a bone to pick? You’ve come so far, Why now are you pulling on my dick? I’d normally slap your face off, And everyone here could watch. But I’m feeling nice. Here’s some advice. Listen up, biotch!

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: I like!

H. CHANDLER: Lookin’ hot Buying stuff they cannot

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: I like!

H. CHANDLER: Drinkin’ hard Maxin’ Dad’s credit card

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: I like!

H. CHANDLER: Skippin’ gym Scaring her Screwing him

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: I like!

H. CHANDLER: Killer clothes

HEATHERS: Kickin’ nerds in the nose!

H. CHANDLER: If you lack the balls You can go play dolls Let your mommy fix you a snack

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: Woah!

H. CHANDLER: Or you could come smoke Pound some rum and coke In my Porsha with the quarterback HEATHERS: Woah! Woah! Woah! Honey, whatchu waitin’ for? Welcome to my candy store It’s time for you to prove You’re not a loser anymore Then step into my candy store

H. CHANDLER & H. MCNAMARA: Guys fall

H. DUKE: At your feet Pay the check

H. MCNAMARA: Help you cheat

HEATHERS: All you

H. DUKE: Have to do

H. CHANDLER: Say goodbye to Shamoo

HEATHERS: That freak’s

H. MCNAMARA: Not your friend I can tell in the end

HEATHERS: If she

H. MCNAMARA: Had your shot

HEATHERS: She would leave you to rot

H. MCNAMARA: ‘Course if you don’t care Fine! Go braid her hair Maybe Sesame Street is on HEATHERS: Woah!

H. MCNAMARA: Or forget the creep

H. DUKE: And get in my jeep

H. CHANDLER: Let’s go tear up someone’s lawn

HEATHERS: Woah! Woah! Woah! Honey, whatchu waitin’ for? Welcome to my candy store You just gotta prove You’re not a pussy anymore Then step into my candy store

H. CHANDLER: You can join the team

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: Or you can bitch and moan

H. CHANDLER: You can live the dream

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: Or you can die alone

H. CHANDLER: You can fly with eagles

HEATHERS: Or if you prefer

H. CHANDLER: Keep on testing me

H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: And end up like her!

MARTHA: Veronica, look! Ram invited me to his homecoming party. This proves he’s been thinking about me.

VERONICA: Color me stoked.

MARTHA: I’m so happy!

HEATHERS: Woah!

H. DUKE: Honey, whachu waiting fo—

H. Chandler SHUT UP HEATHER for step into my can-dy– store Oooh woah! Woah oh oh! prove your not a lame ass any-more step into my candy store

H. CHANDLER: H. DUKE & H. MCNAMARA: Step into my candy store! Time for you to prove Oooh woah! Woah oh oh! You’re not a lame ass anymore Then step into my candy store

HEATHERS: It’s my candy store It’s my candy It’s my candy store It’s my candy It’s my candy store

Local actor Chloe Lamb portrays Candy Store ringleader Heather Chandler. She is diabolically convincing in the role. Chloe has been acting since she was 10. She takes her craft seriously. To immerse herself in theater, she works at both Florida Repertory Theatre and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Lamb takes voice lessons from Broadway Palm director and choreographer Amy McCleary. It shows. Her strong vocals are one of the reasons she’s a stand-out among the talented young cast of Heathers the Musical.

Among other venues, Lamb has performed at Broadway Palm, appearing as part of the cast of The Wizard of Oz in 2016. Tw0 of her favorite roles have been Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and Brigette in The Sound of Music. After she finishes her reign as Westerberg High’s Red Queen, Chloe will be portraying Natalie in FMHS’ production of All Shook Up. An IB student at Fort Myers High School, Chloe is also a member of the JV cheer squad and several clubs.

Madison Mulvey plays the role of Yellow Heather, Heather McNamara. Madison is 15 and a sophomore at North Fort Myers High School. She has been performing since the age of six. This is her sixth production with City Scenes Theatre Company/Alliance Youth Theatre. Madison has also performed in numerous shows at Florida Repertory Theatre.

Tatum O’Donnell is the Green Heather (Heather Duke). The North Fort Myers High senior was recently seen in the Foulds Theatre playing several roles in Almost, Maine, and Heathers the Musical represents her ninth production with City Scenes/Alliance Youth Theatre program. Although her character in Heathers is cold and callous (barely moved by her Queen’s untimely demise), she is sentimental in real life. As her time in City Scenes/Alliance Youth Theatre draws to a close, she vows to never forget all that Carmen, PJ and everyone else have done to make her a better actor and a better person during her time there.

That said, you really don’t want to cross these Heathers. So make plans to support Chloe, Madison, Tatum and the rest of the cast and crew. You have four chances to catch a performance of Heathers the Musical. They’re at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, December 9 & 10. Contact the Alliance for tickets at http://www.artinlee.org or by calling 239-2787.

December 8, 2017.