Girl power: Big vocals, savvy casting fuel Paramount’s ‘Mean Girls’
The pink wave that engulfed Aurora’s Paramount Theatre last week had nothing to do with party politics or social causes and everything to do with the peppy regional premiere of the “Mean Girls” musical.
Pink is the preferred color of the Plastics, the high school queen bees at the center of the hit 2004 film, a social satire starring Lindsay Lohan, written by “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live” veteran Tina Fey.
Fans of her “girl world” satire and coming-of-age tale signaled their affection by sporting dresses and skirts, vests and shirts in shades ranging from bubblegum to rouge. Those fans were rewarded by a stage adaptation faithful to the screenplay. Fey’s original quips, burns and bits remain, supplemented by composer Jeff Richmond’s not especially memorable pop-rock score and lyrics by Nell Benjamin that lurch from clever to cheesy and back to clever.
Case in point: this lyric groaner from mean queen Regina: “I've got money and looks. I'm drunk with power. This whole school humps my leg like a Chihuahua.”
Unlike the “Mean Girls” film, which runs a lean 97 minutes, the stage counterpart suffers from bloat with a running time (with intermission) of 2½ hours, including the 90-minute first act.
Overstuffed? Yes. But director Devon Hayakawa’s talented cast, which includes character actor extraordinaire Veronica Garza, delivers.
This “Mean Girls” incarnation introduces a framing device. It comes in the form of an ongoing lecture delivered by best pals Janis (Lucy Godinez) and Damian (Steven Klenk) to incoming freshmen at Chicago’s fictional North Shore High School.
“How far would you go to be popular and hot?” they sing. “Would you resist the temptation?”
“No you would not,” they conclude.
The duo — stereotypical artsy outcasts — proceeds to narrate the story of North Shore High newcomer Cady Heron (the winsome Elizabeth Stenholt), a homeschooled math whiz who grew up in Kenya.
Introducing her to the jungle that is high school, they encourage her to find her “clique and stick with it.”
Cady is adopted by the Plastics, the popular clique led by queen bee Regina George (the coolly calculating New York import Dariana Mullen). Regina’s attended by insecure yes-woman Gretchen (Angel Alzeidan) and dim-witted sexpot Karen (Julia Hope Budd).
Encouraged by Janis and Damian, who want her to dig up dirt on Regina in order to overthrow her, Cady befriends the Plastics. But the relationship sours after Cady falls for everyboy (teenage everyman) Aaron (Diego Vazquez Gomez), Regina’s ex-boyfriend. Schemes and back-stabbing ensue as Cady topples apex predator Regina and assumes control of the pack.
All of which leads to the requisite lessons: being your authentic self is more important than being popular; you don't elevate yourself by tearing down others; mutual support breeds strength; and lastly, kindness counts.
Worth noting, the boffo 11 o’clock number belongs to Godinez’s imperfect albeit genuine Janis, whose anthemic “I'd Rather Be Me” extends a middle finger to high school social hierarchists.
Director Devon Hayakawa’s glossy production is big and bright. The contemporary high school set is by Milo Bue. Greg Hofmann designed the neon bright lighting and Katryna Hilko created the teen chic costumes.
Much of the strength of Paramount’s revival rests with its powerhouse belters — Des Plaines native Stenholt, Mullen, Godinez, Klenk, Alzeidan and Budd. But Hayakawa's secret weapon is Garza.
The Itasca native delivers a tour-de-force performance playing three principal parent figures: math teacher Ms. Norbury, Cady’s professor mom Ms. Heron and Regina’s “cool mom” Mrs. George.
Garza doubling roles is a gimmick, but it’s a gimmick that produces laughs, earning this B+ musical an A.
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“Mean Girls”
3 stars
Location: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com
Showtimes: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 11
Tickets: $34-$109
Running time: About 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission
Parking: Limited street parking; paid lots
Rating: For teens and older, some adult language and subject matter