“Mean Girls” a Message For All Ages

Mean Girls, based on the 2004 film, has danced and sung its way onto the Proctors Theatre stage in Schenectady. The coming of age show was written by Tina Fey, of Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock fame, who also wrote and starred in the original movie version.

Mean Girls follows the life of Cady Heron as she moves with her parents from Kenya to suburban Chicago. We are introduced to Cady by Janis and Damian, who break the fourth wall and invite the audience to join Cady’s journey as she navigates the pitfalls and cliques of high school. They also act as Cady’s guides, steering her through life with the song “Where Do You Belong”. Mean Girls explores all of the highs and lows of trying to fit in and become accepted in a high school environment that is normally not willing to accept outsiders. We meet all of the cliches that high schoolers tend to fit: the jocks, the math geeks, the outsiders, and of course the group that “runs the school’s social structure”, the plastic girls led by Regina. 

This cast of 20-somethings is just beginning to make its imprint in the theater world. They offer an amalgamation of talent that is impressive. Casey Nicholaw, multi-Tony award winner and director-choreographer of the Broadway production, has put together a Broadway-worthy production on the national tour. He manages to fill the stage with innovative, exciting staging and movement from his 25 cast members. Sets roll in and out seamlessly; cafeteria tables, student desks, and chalkboards all fly on and off the stage as part of the choreography.  Musical Director Benedict Braxton-Smith brings out the most wonderful vocals from this cast. The 12-piece orchestra under Braxton-Smith’s direction fills the theater’s vacuous space. 

Perhaps the most amazing part of the production belongs to the video design by Finn Ross and Adam Young, who create through the use of what appear to be floor-to-ceiling LED light boards that surround the stage the most exciting innovative scene changes with incredible detail. The transformation from the African savannah to high school cafeteria to classroom to locker room to bathroom to interior and exteriors of houses is a show unto itself.  The show is worth the price of admission just to watch the amazing light show that occurs. 

Of course, that is by no means the only reason to see Mean Girls. Jeff Richmond’s music and Neil Benjamin’s lyrics blend flawlessly with Fey’s book. The music propels the storyline and accentuates the action.  One can have all of the elements of a fine production, but unless they are equally well executed, it is all very much an exercise in mechanics. Mean Girls does not fail here either. Eric Huffman and Lindsay Heather Pearce set the bar high as Damian and Janis. Together their voices lead the troupe with gusto and power. Huffman’s dancing, from tap to contemporary, is perfection as is his and Pearce’s interpretation of their characters. The plastic girls: Nadina Hasan (Regina), Jasmine Rogers (Gretchen), and Morgan Ashley Bryant (Karen) combine the best of dance voice and drama. Bryant’s delivery as the now iconic “Karen” is superb. Rogers’ dancing is exceptional, and Hassan’s Regina soars with her act two “World Burn” number. It is Gretchen’s (Jasmine Rogers) “What’s Wrong with Me” that presents the show’s message. She sings what most of the cast thinks. Each student wants to know why they don’t fit in with whatever group they are not a party to. This takes the concept of “the grass is always greener” to the most basic level, felt by most teens as they navigate the highs and lows of high school.

For all of its high-tech expanse, excellent music, and outstanding dancing, Mean Girls is a message play. It fits well with high school students trying to figure out where they belong, as well as many adults still on the journey of self-exploration.

Mean Girls is an exhilarating journey through the halls of the high school and (ultimately) fun and enjoyable trip, with lessons for everyone to take away. The music is loud, the action fast and some of the themes should be reserved for “mature” audiences.

Mean Girls plays at Proctors Theatre through Sunday, July 3. For more information visit www.proctors.org. or call 518-346-6204.