Sometimes all the stars align and a show arrives on Broadway perfectly timed. Mean Girls is one of those shows. More importantly, this new musical also manages to be highly entertaining. Adapted by Tina Fey from her own screenplay, there are plenty of laughs. I have never seen her now cult classic film so I approached this material with few preconceived notions. I left the theater certain I just saw the third Best Musical Tony nominee this year after The Band’s Visit and SpongeBob SquarePants (with Frozen and Summer yet to follow).
The familiar territory is high school, a cesspool of insecurity and bullying with a thick layer of hormonal angst. What makes this show top drawer is a cast in which every performance excels. Rare is the musical where this many different characters have finely executed moments in the spotlight. That includes the interestingly cast ensemble, many of whom steal our focus now and again to great effect (Collins Conley, you know who you are). Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw keeps the action moving creatively, transitioning scenes from Kenya to classroom to lunchroom to bedroom with the lightness of youth. Who says you cannot have a person singing and dancing while tossing set pieces off-stage? Unlike the mean girls’ motto, there are no rules here other than slickly executed Broadway professionalism combined with teenage verve.
The visual projections are also terrific and give the show a witty modern gloss; #finnross #adamyoung, impressive work here. Social media was not a thing back in the heyday of Mean Girls, the movie. Ms. Fey has nicely updated the story and made this element important as it would be now. The music and lyrics are fittingly in the style of “high school musical,” with a few standout songs. Costume Designer Gregg Barnes outfitted our bad girls memorably. Special prop awards go to the cafeteria trays.
Now let’s praise the exceptionally well-cast actors. Taylor Louderman is the “Apex Predator” Regina who seethes venom and sings beautifully. Her companions are the outstanding Ashley Park (insecure Gretchen) and the simply hilarious, loved every second of her performance Kate Rockwell (the ditzy Karen). Erika Henningsen is Cady, the new student who tries to fit in, admirably making her story arc believable and central amidst a phalanx of quirky characters.
All of the featured roles are richly played and humorous, notably by Kerry Butler (multiple bullseye characterizations) and Cheech Manohar (one of the “mathletes”). As our part-time narrators, Greg Henson (Damian, the gay one) and Barrett Wilbert Weed (Janis, the “space dyke”) open the show with “A Cautionary Tale.” Mean Girls delivers on its title promise but with acerbic wit and bitchy fun without being hideously cruel.
The talented Ms. Fey does not waste her opportunity to say what’s on her mind, aiming her messaging directly at the young women in the audience. In this #metoo era, women are boldly standing up and fighting for themselves. Wicked may still be playing a couple blocks away but the pleas for the right kind of girl power are deafeningly louder here. I sincerely hope they can be heard amidst the enjoyable snarky pink frivolity and bountiful merchandise for sale in the lobby.
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