The production feeds on the popularity of the movie “Mean Girls” with energy, sass and eyeball excitement that doesn’t quit. Enthusiasm generally was present from the knot of showgoers. One burst was right away, for the artsy Janis and Damian at the start and their alert that the story is “a cautionary tale.” And Karen brought cheers as her “Sexy” solo began. Cheers arose for some arrivals – probably recognized from the movie. On opening night Wednesday, portions of the audience played a role. There are scene changes with some props and set pieces – fascinating when the Cady’s parents’ house is created in a few moments – but the visuals are “Oh, holy cow.” Often, a backdrop arrives as if an imaginary giant brush is stroked across one’s field of vision, and a new image or color or scene or collage or set of photos or blocks of statements or visual/colorific razzle dazzle has appeared in seconds. Setting “Mean Girls” aside from many shows is the use of projected animation. The cast is loaded with female voices with power in the high notes – as if helium is at work – and intensity in the lyrics. Jasmine Rogers and Morgan Ashley Bryant, as Regina’s minions, add layers of sorrowful wannabe-ism (“What’s Wrong with Me?”) and pleasant shallowness, respectively.ĭance sections abound, with a lot of brass in the background driving the athleticism and all-out mass choreography by the corps. Eric Huffman and Lindsay Heather Pearce are Cady’s guideposts, a couple of artistically minded truth seekers/sayers. English Bernhardt is Cady, the innocent thrown to the nasty masses in school who is lured to wrong turns until shown a corrected map delivered by the law. Nadina Hassen is the ice queen, Regina, in look, style and chilling demeanor. There’s a lot of dazzle in the characterizations. In “Mean Girls,” the heroine listens to voices of advice – seemingly for good – and becomes the clone evil queen… until she sees the errors of her ways and sings the sweetest song in the show.Īt the same time, the production is impressive. Central are a dominating school queen – trend setter, rule maker, intimidation master – and two copycat companions. “Heathers” and “Mean Girls” are of similar cloth. Domination.” That is from my review of the October 2021 production of “Heathers” by Impact Theatre Company in Fond du Lac. There is another matter with “Mean Girls.” This: “The story is set in what amounts to be Worst Case Scenario High School. Much quick, layered upon layered maneuvering takes place as the plot strives to congeal toward a climax with an obligatory message that simmers down to the good ol’ “To thine own self be true.” Coarse seems to be celebrated in this piece of entertainment. And there is a wild party at a home with the parents away – booze and body language all around in happy hedonistic hoorah-ing. Suggestive sexual matters are flipped in casually, apparently to represent the care-less ways of high school days of some adventurously hormonal students. The subject matter is a bit iffy at times. This is a busy show, and quality control seems high. This may seem to be neither here nor there, except this company performs seamlessly through all sorts of dance and vocal requirements. The book combination gives a glimpse into how touring companies evolve as contracts are up or other circumstances arise over the months of a tour. Now stuffed into the middle of the entire book – kept for economic reasons – is an updated 16-page section with the current cast, photos and bios seven of the 16 characters have different actors. Stapled into the center is a 16-page section, including that cast, photos and bios. One part is the entire program from the original date the show was to play at the PAC. One of the interesting sidelights of this visit for the tour is the printed program, which comes in two parts. The announcement, recorded back when there was more of a concern, probably seemed dated to the audience. Tina Fey, the creative whiz who wrote the book, makes reference to audience members watching the show while wearing masks and having bad breath (supposedly being humorous), though hardly anyone in attendance Wednesday wore a mask. There is one hint of COVID-19’s presence affecting the tour in the recorded introductory announcement. 28, being close to a sellout of approximately 14,000 patrons. Result: “Mean Girls” opened Wednesday to a near full house and a standing ovation, with the seven-performance run to Sunday, Aug.
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