Review: I WAS A TEENAGE SHE-DEVIL, The Other Palace
Photo credit: Lidia Crisafulli
It’s prom night, and someone’s got a date with the devil…
I Was A Teenage She-Devil throws you straight into a high-school world where popularity is crucial, guitars are always within reach, and making a deal with Satan feels like a reasonable after-school activity – it’s properly and proudly ridiculous, and thankfully it knows it.
The references are there from the start and, as a horror fan, it’s huge fun trying to catch them all. For example, two of the main characters are called Nancy and Heather, so it’s hard not to think of Nancy Thompson, played by Heather Langenkamp in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, 91 minutes), and once you spot that, the Satan figure suddenly makes sense too, with a very Freddy Krueger-style swagger and loads of one-liners.
There are some properly niche nods as well. A “dirty pillows” line gets a laugh for anyone who knows Carrie (1976, 98 minutes), and a casual “let’s blow this pop stand” is a wink to A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989, 89 minutes). Even the criminally underrated Prom Night 2: Hello Mary Lou (1987, 97 minutes) gets a tiny cameo. Blink and you’ll miss them, but they’re the kind of details that make you feel like creator Sean Matthew Whiteford definitely knows his stuff, and the show is a true love letter to the genre.
There are plenty more references too, but the joy is in spotting them yourself – and if you’re not a horror movie buff, don’t worry; I Was A Teenage She-Devil is still hilarious with some extraordinary performances, vocals, and songs, so you’re not going to miss out.
Musically, it’s full 80s power-ballad territory, with big belts, big feelings, and songs that sound like they should be accompanied by a smoke machine and a dramatic spin towards the audience (and they sometimes are).
Aoife Haakenson leads as Nancy, taking the character from overlooked teenager to full she-devil with confidence, while Ashley Goh brings sharp timing and a knowing edge as Debbie that helps keep the humour alive – they’ve got a fantastic punk look too, which also made them stand out. Sean Arkless’ Satan has a mischievous presence that fits perfectly with the tone (and what a voice!), and Caitlin Anderson, Charis Stockton, Jacob Birch, Jordan Fox, and Louis Hearsey throw themselves into the exaggerated high-school chaos with glee. The clever part is that although each of them is playing a stereotype, they still manage to be unique and have their own character.
It all moves quickly under the direction of Rachel Klein, which is probably wise, because this isn’t a show that benefits from stopping to think too hard; it’s happier when it’s charging ahead, guitars blazing.
There’s something very fun about a musical that knows prom night is basically a horror film waiting to happen, and add a deal with the devil, a stack of 80’s influences, and enough in-jokes to keep horror fans busy, and you end up with a show that feels like a late-night movie marathon brought to life.
Camp, chaotic, and packed with deep-cut horror jokes, if you’re fond of 80’s teen slashers, hair bands, and unapologetic power chords, you’re going to have a good time.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Lisamarie Lamb
