The Heathers (Musical): Dark Comedy

The Heathers fallows Veronica Sawyer as she navigates her senior year of high school at Westerberg high in 1989. The story follows Veronica's interactions with the Heathers, a group of popular girls all named Heather, Ram and Kurt, two brainless football players, Martha, Veronica's obese best friend, and JD, Jason Dean, a messed up solitary boy who interests Veronica.

The story has some of the aspects Aristotle's Comedy. Veronica Sawyer is an average student at Westerberg High, she is somewhat nerdy but doesn't hold an extreme position by any means. Like Aristotle's comic heros Veronica does rise up, after helping the Heathers, and asking a boon of them, Veronica is accepted into their ranks as a "4th Heather". There she gets the popularity and untouchableness of the Heathers but also has to pay for it all by losing her old friends (Martha) and acting as a 'Heather'.

But unlike Aristotle's comedies The Heathers does not end with marriage and happiness. Actually the Heathers follows more of a line of Aristotle's tragedies. Four out of the eight principle characters die, and one of the others attempt suicide. On top of that many of the scenes are situated in rather social situations like the cafeteria or a public bathroom, where as bedroom scenes and more intimate scenes are used quite a bit more in Aristotle's comedies (The Heathers does have it's share of those as well).

Although the Heathers does not really fit Aristotle's definition of comedy, it is still funny. By listening closely to the songs, mainly those in the first act, and an audience member will be laughing. It won't be a laugh of joy, or just of the sheer hilarity of the situation, but rather a laugh of uncomfortably.  At the same time many of these uncomfortable, but funny situations, tackle issues that happen in a setting such as High school. The Heathers talks about issues like: Drug and Alcohol use, Consent, Popularity, Homosexuality, Sexuality, Revenge, Relationships (between friends, Master/Servant, Lovers), to name a few.

The Heathers ends with a hopeful message about being able to be kind even as a teenager without losing who you are and where you stand in the world of High School. And also a message of Forgiveness. In the end even though the Heathers does not follow Aristotle's definition of Comedy to the T, it still is a comedic musical with a message.