It’s not like a regular musical, it’s a cool musical.
This year, it was the 20th anniversary of Tina Fey’s hilarious screenplay, Mean Girls, and were it released today for the first time, I suspect ‘grool’ and ‘fetch’ could’ve been crowned Collins Dictionary 2024 word of the year.
Instead, it’s had two musical revamps that have been brought up to date with smartphone jokes. While I’m sceptical of reboots (don’t even get me started on Jurassic World), I’m a theatre lover to the core and the West End production of the hit high school movie, Mean Girls The Musical, was on my hit list.
Plastic fantastic: you can't sit with us.
DesignMyNight Reviews Mean Girls The Musical London
It didn’t take long for my friend and I to realise that the Savoy Theatre had been personally victimised by Regina George, with a prosecco-fuelled makeover, girly pop anthems ringing through the halls and a giant Burn Book, perfect for photo opportunities. If you’ve seen the film, you know the story is this: Cady Heron (played by Charlie Burn for the theatre production) moves from Kenya to attend an Illinois school to become social-savvy. Little does she know, North Shore High School is ruled by The Plastics, who take her under their wing at the expense of her identity and true friends, the brilliant Janice (Elena Skye) and the almost-too-gay-to-function Damian (Tom Xander).
Mean Girls had its Broadway debut in 2018, before touring the US and reaching London in 2024.
Like the 2004 movie, the London musical’s screenplay was also written by Tina Fey, who has kept a fair amount of the big-hitting lines but forfeited the likes of Kevin G’s rap for mediocre verses in ‘Whose House Is This?’.
The musical numbers weren’t particularly memorable, and at times, the choreography felt like an afterthought. Still, the incredible script and fast-paced performances from the entire cast, including Georgina Castle as Regina George and Grace Mouat, who'd perfected the innocent dimness of Karen Smith, made up for it. The character of Gretchen (Georgia Arron) was given a lot of depth, more so than perhaps Cady, and I particularly loved how Zoë Rainey zipped around the stage, changing from Ms Heron to Ms Norbury to Mrs George.
On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.
While the end was given away quite abruptly at the beginning by our narrators for the evening, Damian and Janice, it was clear that the audience already knew the story by heart and was here for a light-hearted, good time. It was the inclusive casting paired with a flamboyant and sparkly wardrobe - thanks to Katrina Lindsay’s designs - that won me over. From fuchsia to pastel pinks, glistening catsuits and bloody corpse bride dresses, I found the entire cast's closet spectacular - transporting me to a world where Regina George reigned supreme.
Mean Girls The Musical UK: Overall
The Mean Girls Musical exceeded my expectations; Tina Fey’s screenplay came together with music and lyrics by Jeff Richmond (30 Rock) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde: The Musical) and felt right at home on stage in the heart of Covent Garden. However, no amount of mathletes, plastics and Glen Coco’s will ever live up to the original movie based on queen bees and wannabes. I left the theatre with a newfound love for the story and a lingering nostalgia about to take the shape of a re-watch: Danny Devito, I love your work.
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💰 Price: Mean Girls The Musical tickets start from £25 via DesignMyNight. 📍 Address: Savoy Theatre, The Strand, WC2R 0ET. 👌 Perfect for: A group night out in Covent Garden. ⭐ Need to know: There’s a Burn Book where you can have your photo taken (oh, and they sell Jude’s Ice Cream and Little Moons). |
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