Review: The Mean Girls Musical Has Made Fetch Happen
Since its original movie release in 2004, Mean Girls has become a staple of pop culture. With its quotable lines, enviable fashion, and permanent grasp on October 3rd, the Plastics of North Shore High School have ruled over their kingdom with a designer fist for nearly two decades.
Natalie Shaw (Cady Heron)
Originally directed by Casey Nicholaw with tour direction from Casey Hushion, the touring production of Mean Girls takes this beloved film and manages to give it a modern twist without compromising the integrity of the original content. With an unforgettable, laugh-out-loud book from the incomparable Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, this grool production is like, really good.
Mean Girls follows the story of new girl Cady Heron (Natalie Shaw) and her first year of public school in the United States after growing up in Kenya. Taken in by lovable art freaks Janis Sarkisian (Alexys Morera) and Damian Hubbard (Ethan Jih-Cook), Cady must learn to navigate the jungle that is high school. When she catches the attention of queen bee Regina George (Maya Petropoulos) and her fellow Plastics Gretchen Wieners (Kristen Amanda Smith) and Karen Smith (Maryrose Brendel), Janis and Damian convince her to befriend them and report back for their own amusement.
Shaw is adorable as the gawky Cady, and her powerful vocals give an extra little oomph to songs like “It Roars,” “Stupid With Love,” and “Fearless.” With snappy one-liners and fiery energy as she bounces from one musical number to the next, Shaw brings dynamic physicality and flawless technique to her performance.
Pictured (L-R): Natalie Shaw (Cady Heron), Ethan Jih-Cook (Damian Hubbard), Alexys Morera (Janis Sarkisian), and the Tour Company of Mean Girls
In comparison to Cady’s bright and bouncy naiveté, Janis exudes swagger and confidence. Morera is effortlessly cool with her artsy jackets and edgy fishnets, bringing a sort of rocker chick energy to the stage. As she belts out numbers like “Apex Predator” and “I’d Rather Be Me,” Janis proves herself to be the loyal, passionate friend we should all be so lucky to have. When paired with Jih-Cook’s fabulous, flamboyant portrayal of Damian, the effect is unmatched. Jih-Cook manages to combine lovable theater-kid intensity with silky smooth vocals, and in true musical theater fashion, an impeccable, over-the-top tap routine during the opening number of Act II, “Stop.”
Pictured (L-R): Maryrose Brendel (Karen Smith), Maya Petropoulos (Regina George), Kristen Amanda Smith (Gretchen Wieners)
The Plastics are some of the most notorious and feared villains of their generation, and Petropoulos reigns supreme as icy queen Regina George. As she combines a sickly sweetness with a flirtatious whine, Petropoulos manages to control the stage with a stare that is both menacingly cruel and casually nonchalant. Belting out numbers like “Someone Gets Hurt” and “World Burn,” she radiates a powerful, seductive energy as she glides across the stage in towering stilettos in only the most fabulous shades of pink.
Smith is darling as the nervous, high-strung Gretchen. Her desperate need for approval and Smith’s comedic abilities create a multidimensional character, particularly during her number “What’s Wrong With Me?” This song of desperation and self doubt helps ground the production with a gritty reality while still keeping the mood light enough for such a show. But it was the “What’s Wrong With Me? (Reprise)” with Mrs. George (Kristen Seggio) that proved to be a pleasant surprise. As these two women poured their hearts out in a moment of broken despair, they created a powerful parallel and confronted an all-too-common troupe, proving that we all face struggles, no matter our age.
In the original film, Karen Smith is used for purely comedic reasons. Fortunately, in this version, she’s given much more depth and is a sort of unsung genius. She’s still a self-proclaimed dingdong, but she is given perhaps some of the most poignant lines in the show when it comes to feminism, equality, and treating people with kindness. Brendel easily bounces back and forth between Karen’s stiff-armed, plastered-on-smile Barbie walk and moments of sassy brilliance as she epitomizes the old expression “acting is reacting,” often stealing the spotlight without uttering a word. She finally gets the chance to show off her vocal chops in her Halloween number “Sexy,” combining effortless comedic skills with loveable moments of dingdong-ness.
Maryrose Brendel (Karen Smith) and the Tour Company of Mean Girls
In any production, costumes and wardrobe play a critical role. But there are few productions in which the specific details of the costumes play such a pivotal role. Mean Girls fashion defined a generation (and gifted us with one of the most infamous lines in modern cinematic history… “On Wednesdays, we wear pink!”). Costume designer extraordinaire Gregg Barnes has fortunately risen to the occasion, putting a modern spin on the Plastics’ legendary 2000s wardrobe of mini skirts, slip dresses, cropped jackets, and fabulous shoes.
Combined with tried-and-true choreography from Nicholaw (and adapted tour choreography from John MacInnis), the production reads as a sort of satirical love letter to theater. Embracing all of its ridiculousness and the absurdities of public high school, Mean Girls takes on serious subjects with a delicate and humorous touch.
Pictured (L-R): Natalie Shaw (Cady Heron), Kristen Amanda Smith (Gretchen Wieners), Maya Petropoulos (Regina George), Maryrose Brendel (Karen Smith), Alexys Morera (Janis Sarkisian), and the Tour Company of Mean Girls
Mean Girls will run at the Durham Performing Arts Center through Sunday, November 26. Tickets can be purchased here. Not recommended for children under the age of 10 years of age. Parental discretion is advised. Children under the age of 6 are not allowed at this performance. Please note that this production makes use of haze, fog, and strobe effects.
Additional production photos can be found below. All photo credit to Jenny Anderson
