There is something killer going on in Orlando's theatre scene, and I mean that in the best possible way. The show runs through August 23rd at The Dr. Having been a bullied outcast for years, Veronica abandons her best friend Martha beautifully portrayed by Ally Gursky to join the school's most powerful clique, the Heathers, played by the collectively and individually wonderful Lindsey Wells, Caroline Drage , and Jillian Gizzi.
The Heathers, and by association Veronica, continue their mean girl reign of terror until mysterious new guy J. Vine video-star Thomas Sanders takes a stand. Nearly as quickly as J. Now, if you think that sounds like odd subject matter for a musical, you would be right; but there is likely no one better to write this show than Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy.
Both of their resumes are littered with beloved musicals drawn from unusual subject matter. The empathy the writers show their sensitively drawn characters should make up for any uncomfortableness you might feel about the story. From leads to ensemble, this is the best musical cast that I have seen since I moved to Orlando.
Visco is a revelation as Veronica. A senior set to graduate from UCF's Acting program later this year, she perfectly blends the horror, heart, and humor that the role requires; which is not an easy task.
One of the highlights of the show is her subtle, non-verbal reactions to the craziness swirling around her; so try not to blink. Visco also possesses a fan tastic musical theatre voice, belting out some insanely tough notes; especially during the climax of "Dead Girl Walking. Giving just enough Christian Slater for it to still be considered homage, he finds a way to make his teenage killer more understandable than the film version.
