I don’t think anyone knows how much Mean Girls had an impact on my growing life. Cady Heron joined the mathletes, so I joined the mathletes. No joke, I actually joined my school’s math team. I started to practice calculus in my free time, mainly limits, for obvious reasons. Other than my sixth grade teacher, Cady was one of the few people who showed me that liking math was cool. I went on to art school and now my friends and I argue on how to divide a restaurant bill by six, but that’s beside the point. I would still consider myself a mathy person; I can’t do basic math, but those imaginary numbers…
Mean Girls also showed how vicious high school can be, and it gave me many years to prepare. It showed someone whose life was changed positively by homeschool. And, it showed me that pink might not be as bad of a color as I had made it out to be.
If you don’t know the story, go back to middle school and get reoriented. If you’ve seen the movie, you can read further, since few things are different between the musical and the movie. In the musical, some characters get more of an emotional arc (Gretchen and Karen) and the overall storyline was a bit condensed, but most major moments were represented in at least a mention, or even a song.
Top 5 characters:
1.) Regina George – Mariah Rose Faith
What a voice! Mariah plays this character with emotion and depth as she evolves throughout the play. And her face was always perfectly placed to glare and gawk at others.
2.) Janis Sarkisian – Mary Kate Morrissey
Okay, so no one’s voice is not good. That’s why they are touring on Broadway, however, I have a soft spot for anyone who plays Janis and for any character who immediately talks to a new girl at school. Mary Kate portrays Janis as strong and also vulnerable at the same time.
3.) Cady Heron – Danielle Wade
Our main character! Although at times, it feels like Regina is the main character. In my world, Regina is always on top. Danielle plays Cady as naive on the outside, but oh so clever on the inside.
4.) Gretchen Wieners – Megan Masako Haley
There is more to Gretchen than meets the eye and definitely more in the musical than what is seen in the movie. Gretchen goes more in depth about her lack of confidence and sings an entire song about it (“What’s Wrong With Me?”).
5.) Karen Smith – Jonalyn Saxer
Karen is lovable regardless of if she is in the movie, the musical, or in a high school setting. Like Gretchen, the musical goes more in depth with her character and her past. In the song, “Stop,” Karen sings: “’Cause I’m actually a human being a not a prop,” and that says it all.
Top 5 songs:
1.) “Apex Predator”
This one is in order, it’s my favorite song in the entire musical. Janis and Cady sing together about how Regina is the “apex predator,” and when it is performed, the performers act like animals, stimulating a predatory environment.
2.) “World Burn”
Regina shows her true dominance, taking matters into her own hands and distributing the Burn Book throughout the school. And, her vocals are silky, just a bonus.
3.) “Sexy”
Karen sings: “I can be who I wanna be and sexy” while dancing around with people dressed as sexy versions of typical costumes. Stick around for “sexy corn” and the cure of “sex cancer,” it’s worth it.
4.) “I’d Rather Be Me”
Janis drags fake friends, fake girls and talks about changing who you are to fit in by singing : “I’d rather be me than be with you.” It’s a message I could have used in any of my schooling years.
5.) “Someone Gets Hurt”
More killer vocals from Regina George, this time pointed at Aaron. Yes, she is manipulating him and Cady, since she wants to get back together with him to get back at Cady, but this was before her change of heart, so all if forgiven in my book.
It was pretty “fetch,” if I do say so myself.