For those blissfully unaware of events at North Shore High School, Cady Heron arrives at the school having been living with her mother in Kenya. She encounters an unofficial social strata among the students - presided over by a trio of sharp tongued and well styled girls known as The Plastics. The trio consist of 'Queen Bee' Regina and her eager to please acolyte Gretchen and cerebrally challenged Karen. Cady finds a welcome from social outcasts Janis and Damian, who warn her of the toxic nature of The Plastics. But when Cady finds herself invited to dine with them at their exclusive canteen table she is drawn into a world of social putdowns and vindictive behaviour. She resolves to take them on, but at what cost to herself?
The music of composers Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin is very much in the pop idiom, a range of ballads and full on production numbers which keep the toes tapping throughout. 'Apex Predator' and 'Revenge Party' particularly stick to the ear after you have left the theatre, and as such the music resonates with the audience its aimed at.
Emily Lane is a wining Cody, having both the bright and breezy awkwardness of a teen whilst delivering outstanding vocals. At the performance we saw, we were blessed with the alternative Regina, Tori Louise Ryan. She smashes it as the viper Regina combining sass and waspish cunning. She is matched by Kiara Dario and Sophie Pourret as Gretchen and Karen respectively. They both hit their characters on the nail, plus sing and dance a dream. Star performers to the hilt. Equally Georgie Buckland's Janis is all anger and alternative narrative, she brings the fire in the fight against the rule of the Plastics and delivers a rousing 'I'd Rather Be Me'. Max Gill has the difficult task of pulling off the least well written principal Damian, all camp and attitude. He manages to overcome the limitations of the two dimensional role with comedic sparkle. A word too for Ben Oakley, the geeky jock Aaron, Cody's crush and Regina's ex. He too overcomes some bland dialogue to find some heart in Aaron. Steps' own Faye Tozer is pitched as the star name, alternating three small characters: a hippy Mom, a pushy teacher and Regina's oversexed pink lady of a mother. Tozer handles them all with ease, including some impressive quick changes, but doesn't really get a chance to shine like a performer of her talent and experience should. Not her fault though.
Director Casey Nicholaw (currently bringing The Greatest Showman to the UK stage) makes sure the show hits all the right notes, combining the chaotic educational environment with some intimate set pieces as each character contemplates their place in the high school hierachy. Mean Girls is a feast of a morality tale set in a stereotypical American high school. The ultimate message that we should all be nicer to each other has taken the long way around, but its a fun journey to get there.
We weren't sure the show would be for us, but were won over by the sheer exhuberance of the cast and the sheen of the visuals. A special mention for the band too, they were top notch. One of the best we have heard in a Pit for a while. Congrats to those hidden away who provide the wall of sound.
If you get your chance to party with The Plastics on tour, go for it. This is one revenge party you won't want to miss.
Rob & Ian
Mean Girls tours the UK throughout 2026/27, tour dates can be found at the OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Further listening:
Not a lot of choice, its either the movie soundtrack or the original Broadway cast recording, so we'll go with Broadway.
No comments:
Post a Comment