By TR Robertson
The second show of Moonlight Amphitheatre’s 45th season first appeared as a popular 2004 comedy film that was inspired by a 2002 self-help book called Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman. The book looks at school cliques, peer pressure, school bullying and the effects all of these have on teenagers. Tina Fey was so taken by the book she wrote a book that the film was adapted from. She has said some of the ideas in the film came from her own experiences while attending Upper Darby High School in Darby, Pennsylvania. Thirteen years later, the film was adapted for the stage as a rock musical, premiering in 2017 in Washington, D.C., at the National Theatre; then running for 833 performances on Broadway in 2018 at the August Wilson Theatre. The musical would have run longer but was shut down when all of Broadway closed due to the COVID pandemic.
The musical features music by Jeff Richmond, Fey’s husband, and lyrics by Neil Benjamin. It received 12 Tony nominations, including Best Musical, 9 Drama Desk nominations, winning for Outstanding Book of a Musical. The musical was also nominated for 6 Outer Critics Circle Awards and 3 Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography, winning Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show.
The Moonlight Stage Productions presentation of “Mean Girls” is the Regional Premiere for the musical. Highlighting the musical is the return to the Moonlight Stage as the Director and Choreographer, John Vaughan. Vaughan has been involved in over 400 productions in Southern California, including five previous Moonlight productions. One of the many highlights of the “Mean Girls” production is the amazing, enthusiastic, and energetic ensemble performances that appear throughout the musical.
The general tone of the musical is comedic. The characters appear a little over-the-top, which takes some of the bite out of the serious topics the musical touches on. The musical has also been updated to today’s world of online social media that has brought about cyber bullying, body shaming, and hating that many teens have suffered from while trying to navigate their social world.
We are told from the beginning that this is “A Cautionary Tale” but all will end well and no one will be seriously hurt. This occurs from the opening song sung by Janis, played by Jack Stoler, and Damian, played by Cayden Alley. Both of these characters will start out as friends of Cady Heron, played by Erin Dubreuil. Cady has moved to the United States after living most of her life in Africa with her parents. She has been home schooled and will now be attending a Chicago public high school for the first time. Cady is nervous about her new circumstances, making friends and trying to fit in, tough circumstances many teens have been through. Janis and Damian are on the fringes of the social world at school, and they feel they can help Cady adapt. Almost immediately Cady meets “The Plastics”, three girls that appear to run the high school’s social world. The “ring-leader Queen-Bee” is Regina George, played by Madeline Walter. Her two accomplices are Karen Smith, played by Lizzy Sheck, and Gretchen Wieners, played by Salima Gangani. Cady is invited to join in with The Plastics, much to the dismay of Janis and Damian. Along the way Cady meets a boy she likes, Aaron Samuels, played by Davide Costa. The only problem is Aaron is Regina’s ex-boyfriend. The plot thickens as Cady begins to rise in the schools’ social ranks, sees an opportunity to remove Regina as the social queen, after she sees Regina take Aaron back as her boyfriend. Using body shaming during a talent show and tricking Regina into eating fattening protein bars and the ever-present cell phone’s ability to take and distribute photos, Cady pulls out all the stops to try and get Aaron back from Regina. Meanwhile, Janis and Damian are becoming disgusted with the person Cady is becoming. Janis is also disappointed with Regina; a person she was once friends with. Even the helpful teacher, Ms. Norbury, gets caught in the middle of trying to bring peace to the teens’ world. It takes a nearly disastrous accident to get Cady to realize what she has done to so many people and at least for this teens’ world, a happy ending will ensue by the end of the musical.
Once again casting is the key to presenting a successful musical and this musical is perfectly cast. The naive, socially awkward Cady is played by Erin Dubreuil, returning to Moonlight stage. She brings energy, confidence and enthusiasm to the role along with a strong voice in songs “It Roars”, “Stupid with Love”, and “More is Better”. Playing the leader of “The Plastics”, Regina, is Madeline Walter, a Disney Cruise Line veteran. Madeline has the attitude and bossiness for this role, which means you sort of like her and sort of don’t like her. She also has a strong voice shown in “Someone Gets Hurt” and “World Burn”. The two cohorts of “The Plastics”, Gretchen and Karen, are Salima Gangani and Lizzy Sheck. Salima presents Gretchen as insecure and eager to please anyone that will validate her. Lizzy shows Karen as the stereotypical ditsy blonde, sweet but spacey, shown best in her song “Sexy”.
The very funny Damian is played by Cayden Alley, making his Moonlight debut. Cayden has Damian as an overly zealous, very enthusiastic friend. Their opening number he sings with Janis, “A Cautionary Tale”, sets the tone for the musical, you are going to learn something but it’s going to be a wild, fun trip along the way. Janis is played by Jack Stoler, also making her Moonlight debut. Her Janis is a bit dark and ominous, also with attitude. Also making his Moonlight debut is Davide Costa, who plays Regina’s and Cady’s love interest Aaron Samuels. Of special note should be the amazing performances of members of the Ensemble who appear in numerous dance numbers throughout the musical, including a very clever use of cafeteria trays in “Where Do You Belong?” Especially enjoyable was the almost James Bond like “Till Someone Gets Hurt” Regina and the Ensemble perform.
Assisting Director and Choreographer John Vaughan are Scenic Designer Stephen Gifford, Lighting Designer Sammy Z. Webster, Sound Designer Jim Zadi, Projection Designer David Murakami, Costume Designer Chong Mi Land, Hair & Wig Designer Peter Herman, Properties Designer Kevin Williams, Stage Manager Stanley D. Cohen, Associate Choreographer and Dance Captain Ryan Perry Marks, Associate Music Director and the 11 member “Mean Girls” Orchestra and Music Director and Conductor Lyndon Pugeda.
There is no doubt that teens who see the musical will be entertained and hopefully learn a little something about the danger of cyber bullying, body shaming and using social media to cause harm to others. Adults might learn a little something as well, such as not being like Regina’s mother, Mrs. George, played by Tracy Lore who also plays Mrs. Heron and Ms. Norbury. Parents need to be parents and not try to be one of your teens’ friends. You need to set boundaries and consequences.
“Mean Girls” will be on the Moonlight Amphitheatre Stage until June 20th. Tickets can be purchased at www.moonlightstage.com/events-tickets . Next up for Moonlight Productions is “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory beginning July 8th.
