‘Mean Girls’ captures funny, subversive spirit of the film
Ah, the musical “Mean
Girls” — onstage at Orlando’s
Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts — takes me back. My high school was so small we barely had cliques. I say barely because of course we had cliques. All high schools have cliques. In fact, if a high school had only three students, I’d bet my bottom dollar that two of them would sit together at the “cool” table and leave the third to sit alone, feeling second best.
Not that I’m bitter.
In fact, I’m tickled pink to tell you that “Mean Girls,” the musical adaptation of the 2004 Tina Fey comic film, is a pleasant surprise in our touring Broadway season. It’s filled with energy, more than a few fun tunes, a couple of real surprises and gorgeous use of lighting and high-tech projections to bring the movie to the stage.
The plot: Cady has grown up in Africa, where her scientist parents homeschooled her. When she enrolls in her first American high school, she first befriends two outcasts, artist Janis and flamboyant Damian, who’s “too gay to function.” The school is ruled by a trio of “mean girls” nicknamed “the plastics.” They’re the top of the social hierarchy, and at the apex is the dictatorial blonde Regina George.
What starts as a plan to spy on the girls becomes more complicated when Cady actually befriends them — and falls for Regina’s ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels.
The dialogue crackles with fun, the performers admirably call to mind their characters’ movie versions without doing direct impersonations and unlike in many musicals, the plot is evenly distributed with constant twists and turns.
Regina could use stronger songs, though Mariah Rose Haley is delightfully fierce as the pink-wearing anti-hero. As Gretchen — who wants to make the word “fetch” a new adjective meaning “cool” — Megan Masako Haley plays pathetic with the right degree of humor, but also conveys the pathos of a girl desperate to be liked. Jonalyn Saxer finds the funny in airhead Karen.
As Cady and Aaron, Danielle Wade and Adante Carter have believable chemistry. Eric Huffman is very funny as Damien, and Mary Kate Morrissey growls with verve as bitter Janis.
At their best, the lyrics capture high-school’s insecurities: “Did you ever get the feeling everybody else is happy? Everybody else has friends — and they’re better friends than yours?” Cady sings. Unfortunately, a subpar sound mix on opening night left a fair proportion of words unintelligible.
Still, the “Mean Girls” message to young women that they should be themselves and support other women in doing the same came through. And importantly, that message is delivered in a way that both entertains and is designed to reach those who need to hear it most. How fetch.
Special note for “Mean Girls” movie fans: Daniel Franzese, who played Damien in the film, will take the stage in Orlando for the production of “Rozeanne” Feb. 27-March 2 at the Footlight Theater at Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail. The parody of the popular TV show “Roseanne” features Ginger Minj (Joshua Eads) as the loudmouthed matriarch of the blue-collar Conner clan. Franzese, who also starred in HBO’s “Looking,” plays her loving husband, Dan.
“Rozeanne” tickets are $25 ($50 for VIP experience); go to tvlandlive.com for more information.