Mean Girls is a fun, sparkly, and fabulous musical on thedangerous jungle known as High School. Written by Tina Fey, formerly of Saturday Night Live, the story navigates the crazy world of cliques, social hierarchies, and bullying. While this sounds like heavy subjects, the show is full of laughs, sharp wit, and charm. The delightful songs and talented cast bring joyful energy and a spirit that will leave you uplifted at the end.
Cady (the lively Katie Yeomans) is a new student at a high school in Illinois, having just moved from Kenya. She was homeschooled, is a bit socially awkward and naive. She makes friends with a couple of oddballs, Janis and Damian (the sensational Alexys Morera and Joshua Morrisey), who instruct her on the many social groups at the school, in particular a trio of popular girls known as the Plastics. They are led by Regina (a wicked Maya Petropoulos), described as the school’s “Queen Bee” and has the stings to go with the title. Janis has a nasty history with Regina, and wants Cady to befriend her to find ways to get revenge. Regina takes an interest in making Cady over in her image, another acolyte to reflect her image of power. All of this manipulation from her friends, leads Cady down a path away from herself. While she is essentially a good person, smart, and insightful, she compromises all of this to fit in and become popular at school, eventually dethroning Regina. Of course, the Queen Bee will not let this go without a fight. The results come to disaster, but with powerful lessons for all of the students.
The perils of High School are exposed with no filters. The kids are full of excitement, insecurity, uncertainty, and have ridiculous or cruel ways of acting out. Yet, everyone wants to be accepted. It may give the audience flashbacks to their time in High School, for good or cringey memories. The show’s themes of predator / prey, social status and image, self-esteem and self-confidence, are all at play with catchy, amusing songs. The cast is wonderful, full of great singers and dance numbers. The sets are fun, and yes, the colour pink is everywhere!
Some have said that the High School years are the best time of one’s life. However, it marks the beginning for the best of what life will bring in the future. Friends will be needed. Competition between friends is to be left behind.
Photo credit: Jeremy Daniel
Mean Girls presented by evenko and Broadway Across Canada. Show runs until April 27, at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts, 175 Ste.-Catherine Street West, Montreal. For tickets call the box office at 514-842-2112 (or 1-866-842-2112) or go to www.placedesarts.com
