Mean Girls is the stage musical adaption of the 2004 movie, both are written by Tina Fey, with the songs for the musical being written by Nell Benjamin (Lyrics) and Jeff Richmond (Music). Nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 2018, it won none. Those expecting Les Miserables will be disappointed, but for fans of the original film, who enjoy a smart script and fun songs will surely have a great time. This is something of a review proof show, if this is your jam you are going to overlook the flaws. If it isn’t, you won’t appreciate what works. Glancing over the the ticket page at the Ordway every performance is showing limited availability so if you are a fan, I urge you to get your tickets sooner rather than later so you get the best possible seats. Get as close as you can, because one of the flaws of this production is that it’s a little difficult to make out about 1/4 of the lyrics. Again, fans who know the show will fill in from memory the parts their ears don’t hear, but newbies will want to listen closely.
In an odd way, and admittedly this is truly a stretch, but if you squint real hard, it’s another show that is an allegory for the current political and social climate of our country. The story is narrated by two students Damian and Janis, played by Joshua Morrisey and Alexys Morera, who are two of the best performers in the show. They tell the story of their friend Cady played by Katie Yeomans, who moves to their town and their high school from Africa where she lived and was home schooled by her parents. Damian and Janis befriend Cady who has little experience with other kids and show her the ropes. When the Queen Bee of the school Regina George, played by Maya Petropoulos, and her two sidekicks Gretchen and Karen, played by Kristen Amanda Smith and Maryrose Brendel, take an interest in befriending Cady. Damian and Janis convince her to go along and report back what happens. Regina is the meanest of the mean girls of the title. But, what the show ultimately tries to point out is that all the girls have been treated meanly and also been mean to another. Gretchen is kept in line by the intelligent but manipulative Regina, by constantly making her doubt herself which she expresses in one of the better songs “What’s Wrong With Me?“. Karen it is stated, is just dumb and plays into the old stereotype of the dumb blonde. So in the allegory Regina is Trump, Gretchen is probably J.D. Vance, And clearly Karen represents 40 percent of the U.S. population. The way they run the school is by fear, lies, and generally being mean to anyone who isn’t them, which is probably about one percent of the schools population. Look I said it was a stretch, but it does kind of work, even if that wasn’t the author’s intent. Fey’s message is actually more important on the human level and that woman need to lift each other up not break each other down. If you have to make someone else feel ugly so that you feel pretty, you need to take a close look at yourself.
Favorites in this production where Morrisey, Morera, Yeomans, and Smith. One performance that seemed like a total misfire was Jose Raul as Aaron, the guy that Cady likes and used to go out with Regina. He’s supposed to be fairly smart but would have been more believable as a dumb jock, there is just something in the way he plays the character that doesn’t fit what we are supposed to see in him. I had seen the show from the original North American tour in 2019, I don’t remember a lot about it, after all that was 500 plus shows ago. But one thing that has stuck with me from that tour was the extensive use of video panels in the set design. All of that is gone in the production replaced with painted drops and set pieces that are wheeled in and out and for me it’s an improvement. I enjoy a strategic use of video, whether it be projections of panels, but that first production of Mean Girls was an example of over reliance on the technology. One thing from this production that feels like it must be a downgrade are the wigs put on some of the characters by hair designer Josh Marquette. I was near the back of the orchestra and they looked like halloween costumes wigs from where I was, I can’t imagine how they looked to people in the front rows. So for me it was something of a mixed bag of a show, I think fans will enjoy it, but it isn’t going to win over any non believers.
Mean Girls runs through April 13th at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in Downtown St. Paul. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://ordway.org/events/mean-girls/
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