The Importance of Being Kind

Mean Girls

Currently, there are two beautifully produced musicals playing in the Chicagoland area that remind theatergoers of the importance of being kind to everyone around us. One is the beautiful COME FROM AWAY, now playing at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire; the other is Paramount’s season opener, the current captivating and colorful production of MEAN GIRLS. At present, despite what most Conservatives claim, that Christian attitude is often lacking in our country. Now, more than ever, we need to remember and practice the Golden Rule and treat others the way we would like to be treated. “Mean may be easier than nice, but at what cost?” asks Devon Hayakawa, the talented director of Paramount’s dazzling production of MEAN GIRLS. And this is the theme of at least two musicals worth visiting this Fall.

“Mean Girls,” a teen comedy film, was adapted for the silver screen from Rosalind Wiseman’s bestselling advice handbook for parents, Queen Bees and Wannabes. “Saturday Night Live” alumnus, Tina Fey, turned the self-help book into a screenplay that was a hit in 2004. Several years later, Ms. Fey turned her screenplay into MEAN GIRLS, the musical. It featured a 

pop/rock score, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Neil Benjamin. The show opened on Broadway in 2018 to mixed reviews, but was popular with young audiences. The musical drew crowds of teenagers and their parents…that is until Covid shut down Broadway in 2020. After that MEAN GIRLS enjoyed two National Tours, but it wasn’t until six years later that Paramount decided it was time to present to Chicagoland this timeless tale of the high school as a microcosm of society. 

MEAN GIRLS is a tuneful, toe-tapping musical story of Cady Heron, a new girl at the fictional suburban North Shore High School. The plot revolves around how this smart, home-schooled young lady tried to find her place on the scholastic social ladder. The show opens with Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard, two of the school’s outcasts, breaking the fourth wall to introduce musically their “Cautionary Tale” for the audience. The show then traces Cady’s rise and fall in popularity, as those two students introduce Cady to the various cliques, including “The Plastics.” These Queen Bees are ruled by lovely, self-entitled and arrogant, Regina George and her two minions, Gretchen Wieners and Karen Smith. Janis and Damian suggest that Cady infiltrate the world of The Plastics and together they’ll bring the downfall of the selfish, snobby Mean Girls. 

But popularity can be a seductive aphrodisiac. The three students’ plan backfires as Cady becomes drawn into Regina’s circle of elite. Instead of undermining The Plastics, she becomes one of them. Events spiral, lies are told, feelings are hurt, reputations are destroyed and nasty gossip becomes the daily news. Like the wild animals that Cady often observed in Kenya, the students at North Shore begin to go after each other, callously tearing down their friends and become more mean than ever. 

In her first solo directing assignment, Devin Hayakawa has thoughtfully influenced and guided their actors with wisdom and empathy, staging the musical with unbelievable electricity. The show nicely fills the enormous Paramount stage with so much color and energy that theatergoers might need sunglasses. The chirpy, pop/rock score is sung with pizzazz by the large, talented young cast. They’re accompanied by a brilliant ten-member orchestra, thanks to musical director and pit orchestra conductor, Kory Danielson. And the vigorous vitality and fancy footwork for this production was created by artistically accomplished Jeff Award-winning choreographer, Kasey Alfonso. That, for me, was the highpoint of this production.

The cast is uniformly magnetic and masterful. Lovely Elizabeth Stenholt portrays Cady Heron with grace, gravity and a gorgeous vocal quality that effortlessly caresses every note of Jeff Richmond’s score. Ms. Stenholt also kind of resembles Lindsay Lohan, the famous young actress who created the role of Cady Heron in the film. Elizabeth creates a likable young character in MEAN GIRLS, much as she did as Olive in Paramount’s delightful production of the 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. 

Ms. Stenholt vies with beautiful Dariana Mullen, as Regina George. Ms. Mullen radiates with an aura of strength and power as the Queen Bee of The Plastics. A powerhouse singer and dancer, Ms. Mullen owns the stage with every appearance. She really lets go in her 11th hour song, “World Burn.” Dariana may be familiar to those who saw her on Broadway in the original cast of THE GREAT GATSBY, and we welcome this incredible triple threat to Chicagoland.

The other two Plastics are portrayed with confidence and great comedic skill. In her Paramount debut, stunning Julia Hope Budd (GREASE, Metropolis; WHITE CHRISTMAS, Towle Theater) is hilarious as the stereotypical dumb blonde, Karen Smith. She lights up the stage with each entrance, and shines in numbers like “Stupid With Love.” And comely Angel Alzeidan (DEAR EVAN HANSEN; NEXT TO NORMAL, Paramount) is both hilarious and heartbreaking as Gretchen Wieners, a girl with a serious inferiority complex. Gretchen constantly second-guesses everything she does, which isn’t helped by Regina’s constant criticism. Angel’s moving rendition of her solo number, “What’s Wrong With Me?” tells the audience everything they need to know about this sad young lady.

But vying for the leads in this musical are lovable Steven Klenk (SCOUTS, Off-Broadway; EMOJILAND, National Tour), as the proud out and gay Damian Hubbard. Together with loner, Janis Sarkisian, portrayed by one of Chicago’s most gifted, versatile and totally talented actor/singer/dancers, Lucy Godinez, for most theatergoers, were the real stars of this production. Lucy, who has superb comic timing, has been enjoyed in leading roles all over the country, especially around Chicago. At Paramount alone, Ms. Godinez was loved in SCHOOL OF ROCK and LEGALLY BLONDE, as well in AMERICAN MARIACHI, at the Goodman, and OLIVER, at the Marriott. When Damian and Janis belt out “Mean,” “Where Do You Belong,” “Someone Gets Hurt” and especially Lucy’s power ballad, “I’d Rather Be Me,” the audience goes wild. And deservedly so. Paramount’s professional production, including Diego Vazquez Gomez (GOODNIGHT MOON, Chicago Children’s Theatre; THE FULL MONTY, at Paramount), as Aaron; Austin Nelson Jr. as Principal Duvall; and particularly the incredibly versatile and multitalented Veronica Garza (THE WHO’S HOLIDAY, Theater Wit; THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Paramount) playing almost every adult role in the musical, can boast some very smart casting. The large ensemble, who sing and dance like the pros that they are, keep the show humming and hopping.

This bright, brilliantly-hued production also shines with the light cast by a brilliant, multilevel scenic design by Milo Bue, a dazzling lighting design that’s courtesy of Greg Hofmann, Erin Pleake’s subtle but powerful video creativity and a multitude of colorful, contemporary costumes designed by Katryna Hilko.

MEAN GIRLS is most definitely aimed at younger audiences. Generation Z, Alpha and Beta, all of whom grew up with smartphones, can easily identify with everything that happens in this musical. It depicts familiar territory for every contemporary kid. And parents of teenagers will also understand and empathize with the drama in this story, and enjoy laughing at the comeuppance and resolution for the bad behavior of the characters. However, older audiences may wince at the callousness and churlish behavior exhibited by characters in this musical. They may find some of the humor difficult to appreciate, and the story may even bring back sad memories from their own high school days. 

But this production of MEAN GIRLS is a winner. It’s another polished Paramount presentation that’s funny, tuneful, and features comedy, drama and strong acting and singing. The talented cast overflows the stage with star power and strong choreography. But in addition to being entertaining, this is a  musical with a message, making a strong case for the importance of being kind.      

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 3-October 11 by Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 630-896-6666 or by going to www.paramountaurora.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.

Photos by Boris Martin