Susan Granger’s review of “Mean Girls” (August Wilson Theatre)
I must confess that Tina Fey’s slyly caustic dialogue in the “Mean Girls” movie made it one of my coming-of-age comedy favorites – and much of it still remains.
Problem is: the 2004 movie was better than this expanded, big-budget musical adaptation, featuring forgettable songs by composer Jeff Richmond (Fey’s husband) and Neil Benjamin’ barely serviceable lyrics, enlivened by Casey Nicklaw’s direction and choreography and augmented by Scott Pask’s scenic design, backed by Fin Ross & Adam Young’s video wallpaper, representing a nastily annotated “Burn Book.”
Set at suburban Chicago’s North Shore High, it revolves the introduction of naïve Cady Heron (Erika Henningsen) to snarky subversion and social climbing. Raised by biologists in Kenya, Cady is more comfortable with animals on the savanna than people, as evidenced in her first song, “It Roars.”
But then her parents decide to return to the United States – to which Cady chirps, “Maybe I can meet an obese person.”
Despite defiant “Cautionary” warnings from a welcoming committee formed by Goth/artsy Janis (Barrett Wilbert Weed) and her overtly gay buddy (Grey Henson), guileless Cady is invited by the Queen Bee, nasty, self-absorbed Regina George (Taylor Louderman), flanked by insecure Gretchen (Ashley Park) and dimwitted Karen (Kate Rockwell), to taka a coveted seat at her table in the cafeteria.
They’re known as the “Plastics,” adhering to a strict dress code that includes, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.” And the song “Where Do You Belong?” skewers the clique-riddled, group stereotyping that incites most adolescent angst.
Complications arise when Cady not only falls for Aaron (Kyle Selig), who happens to be Regina’s ex, but also begins to mimic the Plastics’ bitchy behavior, leaving her charming authenticity far behind.
Like the oft-bantered term “fetch,” it’s self-consciously playful, pandering to the lowest common denominator and becoming increasingly vapid and tedious, despite Tina Fey’s perceptive, social media updates.
Given the sky-high Broadway ticket prices, unless you’re toting determined teenage fans, I’d advise picking another show over “Mean Girls.”