Review – Mean Girls – The Congress Theatre, Eastbourne and National Tour

As I walk into the Congress Theatre, I feel that familiar mix of anticipation and curiosity that only a big musical can stir up. The foyer is buzzing — a mixture of young and old mostly dressed in pink (although it is a Tuesday!) all looking excited and ready for a good time. By the time I find my seat and the pink hued house lights dip, I’m already smiling and ready to be swept back in time to my secondary school days watching the Mean Girls film at sleepovers with my friends.

The show bursts into life with Janis and Damian taking centre stage, and it’s the perfect way to begin. Their confidence and warm rapport encourage some audience participation, which is a great way to liven everyone up before the show even gets going. Georgie Buckland as Janis and Micheal Dean Wilson as Damian are clearly so comfortable working together, they hit that sweet spot of making the audience feel not only safe in their company, we also feel like we are hanging out with friends who can’t wait to spill the tea! They are funny, heartfelt and a little chaotic, setting the tone for a great night out.

The lights switch and we move from a High School in Illinois to meet Cady Heron in Kenya. Cady has been homeschooled for years and yearns for a new life away from the loneliness of her current situation. Emily Lane, as Cady Heron, is the anchor of this production. Her vocals are clean and crisp, and you can’t help but root for this wide-eyed newcomer when she is thrown into the lion’s den of High School.

As Damian and Janis introduce Cady to the high school groups, I look forward to the arrival of the ‘Plastics.’ The cafeteria table rolls through the pink smoke and Vivian Panka, as Regina George, is revealed. Her icy stare and calculated delivery seal Regina as the school’s reigning ‘queen bee.’ When she launches into “World Burn” in the second half of the show The Congress Theatre erupts into thunderous applause. She is unwavering in her commitment to the character and quite frankly a little scary (in the best way) from my seat in the front row!

However, no Regina is complete without her Gretchen and Karen. Kiara Dario perfectly demonstrates the loyalty and desperation of Gretchen with a dose of excellent comic timing. A character you feel sorry for as the cracks in her composure start to widen. Dario’s ‘What’s Wrong With Me’ lays bare Gretchen’s need for approval and gives us a glimpse of the darkness below her perfectly polished exterior. Her rendition brings the house down and quite rightly as she effortlessly blends confident belting vocals with crushing vulnerability.

Anyone who has seen Mean Girls knows that Karen is gifted some of the best one liners in the show and Sophie Pourret delivers them with charm and ease that has us laughing and cringing in equal measure. She leans into Karen’s clueless nature in a way that doesn’t ever feel forced and you can’t help but like her and want to be her friend.

One of the things that strikes me in this production is the ingenious use of multi purpose set pieces. Rather than relying on the high-definition video content of the London production, the show leans into a flexible multi-purpose set pieces. They maintain the fast pace of show and keep the story flowing seamlessly. I prefer this approach and don’t miss the video screens of the London production, as this design seems to root the characters more firmly in their surroundings.

This is another touring production that relies heavily on its ensemble as they tackle multiple roles, high energy dance routines and orchestrate all the set changes. They are polished, energetic and their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

If I had to pick a standout moment in the show, it would be Georgie Buckland’s ‘Id Rather Be Me.’ She brings a fierce energy to Janis and her expressive delivery feels completely authentic. The scenes between her and Micheal Dean Wilson are some of my favourite moments in the show.

If you are looking for a fun night out with a splash of nostalgia Mean Girls won’t disappoint. So, get in loser and head to your nearest theatre for this fetch show!

****    Four Stars