“Get in losers, we’re going…” to “Mean Girls”: “Mean Girls” tour was more than fetch

BY ARIELLE KRAUS

The musical “Mean Girls” has made its way to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts to perform their iconic show for only two weeks. Performances will take place from March 3 to March 15. 

“Mean Girls,” written by Tina Fey, was first a movie, which came out in 2004, and then was adapted into a musical in 2018. The musical features the same characters and a similar storyline, but is better in the aspect that the audience is able to dive deeper into the lives of each character.

The show is presented from the perspective of characters Damian Hubbard (Eric Huffman) and Janis Sarkesian (Mary Kate Morrissey) as they tell the story of their friend Cady Heron (Danielle Wade), who has just moved to the United States from Africa and must learn to navigate life as a high schooler. Janis and Damian are outcasts at their school and provide a comedic outlook on high school.

Wade’s portrayal of Cady was very delicate, as she presents Cady as a teenager who is trying to fit in with the wrong crowd. As in the movie, Cady befriends the “Plastics,” three teenager girls who are the most popular at their school, North Shore High. These iconic roles of Karen Smith (Jonalyn Saxer), Gretchen Weiners (Megan Masako Haley) and, most notably, Regina George (Mariah Rose Faith) truly make the show “fetch.” 

Cady’s story is one many high schoolers can relate to, as she is trying to find her place in high school. The challenges Cady faces, such as choosing between being popular with the “Plastics” or being loyal to Janis and Damian, are some challenges high schoolers face these days. 

These iconic roles of Karen Smith (Jonalyn Saxer), Gretchen Weiners (Megan Masako Haley) and, most notably, Regina George (Mariah Rose Faith) truly make the show “fetch.” 

Cady also falls in love with Aaron Samuels (Adante Carter). The relationship between these two high school students is one many teenagers can picture themselves in, as Cady tries to change who she is for Aaron even though he likes her for her true, authentic self.

As it was based off the movie, the show features the same famous lines of “Fetch,” “She doesn’t even go here,” “It’s October third”  and “Is butter a carb?” When these lines were stated, the audience cheered as they enjoyed the connection to the movie. 

Being that “Mean Girls” was written by the one and only comedic genius Tina Fey, there was no doubt that the show would feature so many humorous comments. The character Karen constantly made the audience laugh because of her witty lines and hilarious lyrics. This is evident in her performance of  “Sexy,” where she decides she sang the song wrong, and literally walks off the stage and then comes back to start over.  

Faith’s portrayal of Regina George was absolutely incredible; she was everything one would expect Regina George to be in a musical. Her performance of “World Burn” was jaw-dropping because of her phenomenal voice and confident “Regina” attitude. 

Janis’s song, “I’d Rather Be Me” is one of the most important songs of the “Mean Girls.” Janis sings this song as an apology to herself for befriending both Cady Heron and Regina George. Her lyrics encourage the audience to not care about what others think of them and just be themselves, something many individuals– especially high school students– need to hear today.

Being that “Mean Girls” was written by the one and only comedic genius Tina Fey, there was no doubt that the show would feature so many humorous comments.

The show would not be complete without its incredible ensemble. The choreography of this show is remarkable and it feels as if the ensemble does not stop dancing throughout the entire show. 

The set of “Mean Girls,” is not a typical Broadway set, as the entire background is screens that change as characters move between settings. This electronic set was an excellent addition to the musical performance as the screen featured a variety of backgrounds that made it easy to understand where the characters were in the show.

The show “Mean Girls” is a must see, especially for high school students, as it puts into perspective the universal reality of the high school experience. “Mean Girls” makes the audience not only laugh, but relate to the characters as they navigate their way through high school and discover themselves. The show will make you feel that you are not alone, as everyone experiences the chaotic atmosphere of high school. 

Photo by Arielle Kraus