There is plenty of fun to still be found in this musical adaptation of the 2004 film, but the updated script lacks the sharpness and punchiness of the original.
It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years since we were first introduced to the ‘Plastics’ on the big screen. As a teenager who was just about to finish secondary school when the original film came out, Tina Fey’s script felt extremely relatable in terms of the politics that goes on when you are a teenager and sharpness to it that was both biting and delightful.
Now finally in London, the musical adaptation still retains much of the most memorable lines from the film with brilliant characterisations from the cast – but through a softer lens in Tina Fey’s updated book that can make it feel slightly flat that doesn’t quite drive its central message about the chaos of power and influence can cause or how knowing who you are valued by is more important than popularity quite home enough.
Cady is a new classmate at the North Shore High School, having been homeschooled for most of her life to date – so of course isn’t aware of all the ‘rules’ that exist. With the help of Janis (Elena Skye) and Damian (Tom Xander) she begins to understand the jungle that is high school – even more so when she is taken under the wings of the Plastics led by the formidable Regina George (Georgina Castle).
The way in which Tina Fey frames the story as a cautionary tale works well, offering some brilliant lines that add a fresh perspective in many ways. Casey Nicholaw’s production is energetic and playful, highlighting the key aspects of the story perfectly to give it heart – for example the way in which Gretchen laments on what is wrong with her that she can’t gain Regina’s attention during ‘What’s Wrong With Me?’ is surprisingly profound and of course brilliantly focused. But the director also knows how to switch it up in bold ways with his choreography for ‘Apex Predator’ and ‘Whose House is This?’ adding to the fun to proceedings.
Jeff Richmond’s music and Nell Benjamin’s lyrics get to the heart of teenage anxiety really well – with songs such as ‘Where Do You Belong?’ and ‘Stupid With Love’ being two that I could have probably most related to when I was a teenager. There is also a strength to ‘World Burn’ (complete with fantastically powerful video designs by Finn Ross and Adam Young) that packs a punch, particularly combined with Castle’s fierce performance.
Scott Pask’s scenic design almost has cartoonish quality to it in many ways (in a good way) with the way in which desks and benches being wheeled on by cast members ensure that the show moves fluidly. It is effective in showcasing how on the surface everything is shiny and happy – but underneath there is a tension that is about to unfold.
The performances all come across as greatly nuanced. Cliona Flynn as Cady offered a charming and believable transformation of the character as she moves from shy to confident and all powerful it is a well grounded performance (although I would have liked the transformation to have happened slower – but that is down to the book). Georgina Castle as Regina has plenty of bite and it is easy to tell she is relishing this role – as her rendition of ‘Someone Gets Hurt’ proves.
Elena Gyasi as Gretchen offers much more from the character than we are used to seeing – a lovely vulnerability to her performance that showcases why she feels the need to hang around with someone like Regina. Meanwhile, Elena Skye and Tom Xander make a fantastic double act as Janis and Damian with the scene in which they confront Cady about her behaviour proving to be a real highlight – but throughout their sense of comedy and earnestness that they give to their characters feels authentic.
It might not be a perfect show, but Mean Girls is plenty of fun and acts as a reminder that even in 2024 – teenager or not – we can use a reminder to be kinder to each other and embrace our differences from one another.
By Emma Clarendon
To find out more about the production click here. You can book tickets via ATG tickets, London Box Office, Love Theatre.com or London Theatre Direct.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐