Tina Fey’s iconic teen comedy Mean Girls has finally made its way to London’s West End as a musical extravaganza at the Savoy Theatre. Based on the 2004 cult classic film, this stage adaptation, which has already conquered Broadway, brings all the sass, drama, and quotable one-liners that made the original a pop culture phenomenon. From “On Wednesdays we wear pink” to “That’s so fetch,” fans of the movie will find plenty to love in this high energy production.
The story follows Cady Heron, a naïve teenager who relocates from Kenya to suburban Illinois and must navigate the treacherous jungle of high school cliques. She finds herself entangled with “The Plastics,” the school’s elite girl group led by the manipulative Regina George. As Cady attempts to fit in, finds love, and eventually takes down the Plastics’ reign, she learns valuable lessons about friendship, identity, and the perils of trying to be someone you’re not.
Charlie Burn shines as Cady, bringing a perfect blend of innocence and growing confidence to the role. Her journey from outsider to queen bee (and back again) is both believable and engaging. Vocally, Burn gives a faultless performance, and the character’s anthem ‘It Roars’ gets the audience in the mood for a rousing night.
Georgina Castle’s Regina George is deliciously cruel, delivering cutting remarks with a smile that could freeze Lake Michigan, and is ably supported by the other “plastics”; a superb Grace Mouat as the delightfully vacuous Karen, and a wonderful Elèna Gyasi as Gretchen.
The supporting cast is equally strong, with standout performances from a hilarious Tom Xander as the lovable Damian and Elena Skye as the sarcastic Janis.
Daniel Bravo, plays love interest Aaron, and anyone who saw Bravo in the recent run of Cruel Intentions at The Other Palace will know the sheer talent on display, which is most evident in the ridiculously catchy ‘Stupid With Love’.
The musical numbers, composed by Jeff Richmond with lyrics by Nell Benjamin, are generally toe-tappers, and while you might not be humming ; on the way home, they work in the moment highlights include ‘I’d Rather Be Me’, and the showstopping ‘I See Stars’.
The choreography by Casey Nicholaw (who also directs) is energetic and inventive, making excellent use of the Savoy’s stage, it gives the ensemble cast an opportunity to show what they’re capable of; watch closely and you’ll see just how hard they are working.
Visually, the production looks great thanks to Scott Pask’s set design cleverly incorporating digital screens to create a constantly shifting backdrop, perfectly mimicking the fast-paced world of social media that today’s teens inhabit. Costume designer Katrina Lindsay has updated the iconic looks from the film for the 2020s, while still maintaining that essential Mean Girls aesthetic; unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of pink!
Mean Girls is entertaining and a lot of fun, maybe it could have taken more risks in updating the story for a contemporary audience, but on the whole it will keep you roaring with laughter. At times it feels like a hybrid of Heathers and Be More Chill, and you can see why it has a similarly dedicated fanbase.
Mean Girls successfully translates the wit and heart of the original film to the stage, while adding its own musical flair. The talented cast and creative team have created a production that will delight both die-hard fans and newcomers alike.
As Gretchen Wieners would say, this show is totally fetch – and unlike Regina George, we’re absolutely going to let it happen!! Mean Girls is one party you’ll definitely want an invite to.
