Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Why Produce HEATHERS, or We Gotta Do Something to Stop Bad Behavior and Violence Everywhere
Breaking Character: As a member of the high school class of 1987, you would think by now that I’d be over the days of teen angst. Remarkably, I’m not in many ways, which I will explain later. But at that time, my angst was different than what we know it to be today…well, in some ways. Sure, there were some bullying issues, issues with self-identity, body image, jock envy (because I was an artsy-fartsy kid) and the general hormonal imbalance that sets us all on our ear for about four to five years or so. For some, maybe more and others less.
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7 comments:
Firstly, this author is hilarious! I love his use of voice and personality to create a very comical, but genuine article. He captures the humor and a whimsical theatricality while also addressing very serious topics. I like how he discussed the issues from chignon school both from the 80's and now. There are many similarities and I think that is one of the reasons why Heathers is still so resonant. I loved how he mentioned the fact that theatrical stereotypes are stereotypes because they are true. Many of the roles in Heathers act as embodiments of many attitudes and opinions that exist in our present and past social interactions. His points about Heathers are completely valid and I believe many people would agree with him. However, I wonder why the run did not extend if it has such a significant message. It is also bizarre that there is a large group of musicals, Heathers included, which the musical theatre youth (fangirls, the RENTheads, the Broadway babies, etc) love, but the run is short. It is odd how that Venn Diagram of "Long Running Broadway Shows" and "Shows Theatre Students Love" do not overlap often. I know it all comes down to money and who is paying for those Broadway tickets. I think that's why many shows that have short runs do well when their=y release rights for high schools and community theatres.
This author has a great perspective, and he is right. Each generation has its own 'hook' when it comes to themes and how they come about it theatre, and I have yet to see something that really defines the issues that children today face. I wonder if this show will become a cult classic, much like some of the drama club kid favorites in generations past that have not done as well commercially (at least the first time around). I can see the opposite side of the story where, if the musical really does play to stereotypes, then I could see how modern generations would not like this type of theatre because in general, the world is moving away from tropes. I understand that if done well, it could be very effective; however, given its penchant for becoming offensive, I can see how people would not like the musical simply because it is not always done well and this is just one man's opinion of a good production.
I read this article sincerely believing that I would not agree with it, and was pleasantly surprised with the author's arguments. I hadn't seen or listened to Heathers until last year, and up until then I believed it was a Little House on the Prairie-esque musical about growing up amongst a lot of heather (that purple flowering plant). When I saw the movie and listened to the musical soundtrack, therefore, I was completely shocked at the content. It wasn't that I didn't like it-- I thought it was pretty clever and interesting, albeit painfully angsty at time-- but I didn't think much more of it beyond an edgy 80's high school movie. However, the point the author brings up about the content vs the tone of the show vocalizes my thoughts about it in a way I couldn't put into words before. The actions in the movie/show are terrifying and bloody. Yet, somehow, we don't really feel scared at any point despite all the violence playing out in front of us. We feel shocked, yes, but never scared, and now I realize it's because of the ridiculousness of the action and the way the other characters react. It's a kind of suspension of disbelief that causes us to be able to step back and chuckle darkly at the action even though we recognize how terrible it is.
It is so funny, because just a week or a few weeks ago, in an article talking about the Toxic Avenger, I actually mentioned Heathers the Musical. What I said was that, the production I saw on Youtube, wasn’t exactly to my liken, and I felt like it was sort of like a “oh this is a popular movie, let’s jump on the bandwagon” addition that didn’t really do anything for the original movie. I loved the movie, and, as I pointed out in my comment, I feel like there is so much to analysis from the movie and is very thought provoking. With that being said, I find myself very much agreeing with this article and Mr. Quinn. A production of the Heathers could be what a lot of high school’s need, but only when it is done right, and with the nature of the movie and musical, it is very easy to make it too goofy and un-relatable. Teen angst still very much exist, maybe in a different form then it was 30 or 40 years ago, but still alive and well, and with current events, from the issues with ISIS, the Refugee Crisis, and our own election, it is definitely a time of fear and strong opinions, and the world may seem crashing down to those who have only lived in it a couple of years (me included). I am not against Heathers the musical, and if someone can do it right, then all the power to ya, I would definitely like to go see it.
This article has made me feel like I should probably listen to the soundtrack of HEATHERS. I saw the movie twice, and I was amused by it, but mostly just saw it as an interesting twist on the whole popular mean girls type of movie. I never really thought of it as important or as a story that had any major cultural value. I do see how HEATHERS addresses a lot of issues that are very big problems in our society today, though I’m not convinced that it addresses them in a way that really accomplishes anything. I don’t feel like it provides insight into school shootings or bullying, even though those topics are addressed, they aren’t really addressed in a complex way, or at least they weren’t in the movie as I remember it. The musical, or any given production of the musical, could be very different. I guess if I get a chance to see HEATHERS, I will have to make sure to look at it as more than an absurd and silly yet dark musical, but see what it actually has to say.
I had the great pleasure of working on a very challenging production of Heathers about 2 years ago. It was a very rewarding experience and I must say: I wholeheartedly agree with the author of the article--Heathers is a must. I think it is interesting that they have created a "school version" of the play. Simply from my experience, the themes within the show are exactly what they should be and "watering them down" to make them more appealing to what a High School Theatre Director might be able to pitch to his or her principle, in my opinion, diminishes the artistic point in the work. Part of the message of Heathers is communicated in its black comedy that encompasses the brutal language and satirical themes of high school stereotypes. When these ideologies that surround the play are stripped, even just a little, I think it can in fact do the opposite of what the author of this article conveys, and create a more twisted and weird message that would just make most audience members uncomfortable. Laughing, maybe--but uncomfortable.
I know this article is primarily about why The Heathers is an important musical that speaks to our current circumstances, but I have to take a moment to voice my frustration with the author’s supporting evidence. The author thinks The Heathers is important and relevant because the world, specifically the people in it, are going to social and cultural hell in a hand basket.
I am growing very weary of the dire warnings about “kids these days” and the insistence that everyone is more self-obsessed, violent, disrespectful, impolite and thoughtless. “No one knows what the word integrity really means.” Seriously? Disrespectful? Not that we don’t have our problems, but my generation is the most educated, the most diverse, and the most culturally accepting. In general we are more politically engaged and more likely to cite fulfillment and the ability to help others as a work goal. America is, on the whole, less violent and Americans gave more billions of dollars to charity last year than in our history.
The Heathers teaches us how to treat each other better? Sure. But that’s not a “contemporary” problem. That’s a human problem that’s never changed. Perhaps The Heathers does speak to the need to remind us all to be kinder to each other, but that argument can be made with resorting to overblown “this is the worst its ever been” stereotypes.
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