Top Hat aims to give youth an outlet with ‘Heathers,’ other shows
By Chris Brown on November 14, 2019.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Cast members rehearse for the upcoming Top Hat Productions presentation of “Heathers: The Musical.” The musical runs Nov. 20-24 at the Esplanade.
cbrown@medicinehatnews.com@MHNBrown
Some people consider high school the best days of the life.
Other people, the worst days.
Either way, high school years have long been popular for drama and comedy on the stage and screen.
Those angsty, awkward and sometimes torment-filled years will be on stage in Medicine Hat thanks to Top Hat Productions and “Heathers: The Musical.” It runs Nov. 20-24 at the Esplanade at 7:30 p.m.
Director Elaine Jeffery says the themes that run through “Heathers” are timeless.
“Social acceptance and the trauma of what high school is,” she said. “It brings us an edgy world of high school and brings out all those issues that nobody wants to talk about – bullying, social acceptance, sex, guns and school violence. It takes a dark, hateful kind of show to force you to take on the issue of what our world is coming to.”
The movie was written and released in the 1980s to minimal acclaim. Over the years though its gained a cult following and the off-Broadway musical came about in 2014.
It focuses on a girl who briefly makes her way to the top of the high school food chain and then sets out for revenge after the position is lost.
Even though it’s more than 30 years since the movie, Jeffery says the strong messages still resonate – and possibly even moreso.
Though serious issues are dealt with, it’s done through humour.
“Nobody wants to be preached to. If you preach to your kids about ‘don’t have sex’ when they’re young and ‘don’t bully people,’ I think preaching doesn’t get the message out,” Jeffery said “This show creates a way for communication. It’s hard to say it’s funny, but it is funny. It’s taken on in a satirical way so you can laugh at the comedy of how it’s portrayed but still have that dialogue at the end.”
As with Top Hat’s previous three productions (“Spring Awakening,” “Newsies,” and “Rent”), youth is at the core of this one. That’s not a coincidence.
Jeffery is trying to zero in on that age group and give an outlet both for the performers and young audiences.
“Of course there’s a place for all different kinds of shows and I just didn’t think this sort of show is being done,” she said. “There’s nothing to say that in the future I wouldn’t do different kinds of shows but right now I’m trying to zero in on that demographic so that I can fill a need. There’s definitely a lot of people out there in that group.”
She adds she’s never had this much interest in any of her previous shows when it comes to auditions.
She thinks a lot of that has to do with how relatable the show is for them.
“I remember bullying in my school, I was bullied, lots of people are bullied. I think people want be part of this because they can really get their teeth into what their character should be.”
“Heathers” is about high school and has mature and explicit themes. The Top Hat website notes “Heathers” is a 16+ show.
A non-profit organization, Top Hat will donate proceeds from this production to the Medicine Hat SPCA.
Tickets are available at tixx.ca, by calling 403-502-8777 or in person at the Esplanade box office or the Medicine Hat Mall customer service desk. More information is available at tophatproductions.ca.
