Review: Mean Girls - Norwich Theatre
Review by Ray Tempesta
The rather iconic noughties movie Mean Girls, about pecking orders, friendship, and fitting in at High School, was given the musical treatment a few years back, and landed on the stage at Norwich Theatre this week amid its first full UK tour.
But was it truly 'fetch' or should it be consigned to the Burn Book? The answer is neither.
With the book for the show written by Tina Fey, who also wrote the movie, it obviously shows an innate understanding of what will please the fans with a number of recognisable lines and references kept in, and the story stays mostly faithful. But it's the songs that I feel let it down slightly.
They are of course by no means bad. World Burn and I'd Rather Be Me are top musical numbers, and Sexy is memorable and hilarious if nothing else. But it largely feels like it's mostly filler and no killer.
Some of this isn't helped by the breakneck pacing of the songs, where if you're not already familiar with the lyrics, a lot of it will pass you by. Although I couldn't fault the quality of the vocals in the show, with Georgie Buckland and Vivian Panka particularly standing out, some of the vocal acrobatics could have perhaps been reined in to aid the diction.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy it - I really did. The aforementioned Panka was superb as the 'plastic' Regina George, seeming to float around the stage above her contemporaries in the first half, prior to her fall from grace. Emily Lane, as main protagonist and new starter at school, Kady Heron, was extremely likeable, as were Max Gill and Georgie Buckland as best friends Damian and Janis, who were a delight in every scene.
Amping up the comedy and tragedy between them were Regina's fellow plastics, Gretchen and Karen (Kiara Dario and Sophie Pourret). Dario gave Gretchen's try-hard character a maniacal energy, which made her fleeting moments of self-reflection all the more sad, while Pourret's brilliantly oblivious Karen was a highlight of the show.
The fairly large ensemble were put to good use throughout, with their energetic and highly polished choreography adding weight and vibrancy to the numbers.
While I did get the feeling throughout that this was one for the fans, there is plenty here to enjoy for the casual theatre-goer.
Mean Girls continues at Norwich Theatre until 17 October.
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