“Mean Girls: The Musical” Review
Eye-catching signs hang outside of the National Theatre to promote “Mean Girls: The Musical.”
When talking about iconic movies, most teenagers bring up “Mean Girls.” Recently, the film expanded into the realm of musical theatre when producers introduced “Mean Girls: The Musical” this past summer. This eagerly anticipated musical debuted in Washington, DC at the National Theatre, prior to going to Broadway, and the production captivated audiences.
The musical did an excellent job of portraying homeschooler Cady Heron’s journey through the stressful, judgmental high school world. Coming from Africa, Cady must adjust to American life while also facing struggles of schoolwork, a social life, and most of all, the social hierarchy of North Shore High School. Both the musical and the movie deal with issues common in high school, such as bullying, and the two do a great job resolving these issues with the simple take-home lesson that everyone should simply be themselves.
The acting, singing, and dancing throughout this musical were absolutely incredible. It was very interesting to see how the writers were able to incorporate songs into what was originally a film. The cast was well pieced together as well. Taylor Louderman portrayed lead mean girl Regina George incredibly well, making people truly despise her at points in the musical, while Barrett Wilbert Weed played Regina’s opposite, Janis Ian well, making her a confident and beloved character. However, the ensemble also contributed to the magic on stage with members such as Ben Tyler Cook and DeMarius Copes who contributed to the up-beat feeling of the musical through their constant dancing and various roles throughout the show. Every member of the cast played a role in causing the audience to fall in love with both the musical and the characters.
The five weeks that Mean Girls was performed in Washington, DC were only the beginning of the musical’s run. In March, the show will debut on Broadway and continue to shine light a on social issues while also entertaining many audiences. “Mean Girls: The Musical” was an outstanding show and an unforgettable experience.
