MEAN GIRLS Previews- Page 7

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 3/25/18 at 1:36pm

I've never seen the film, so not really interested in how it compares. Trying to choose what shows to see when I visit later this spring, and the many negative comments about CAROUSEL have convinced me not to bother. Would appreciate hearing more about the merits of this show, rather than how it compares to the movie.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 10:45am

OK. I'm a little mad with all the negativity around this show on here. I was having mega buyer's remorse after I bought tickets and read through previous comments. I saw the show this past Saturday and it was good. Not groundbreaking, not the best thing I've ever seen, but very good. Yes, it follows the movie to a T, but the audience I was with would've been heartbroken if it didn't. It's clear that a lot of people know this movie inside and out and relate to it so much that they are personally invested in it. And although the audience included many in my age group who remember this from our actual high school days, there were a LOT of middle school and current high school aged kids who were dedicated fans, so I was surprised the movie is still so relevant. Changing the story significantly would have been suicide with this devoted crew. Plus, I don't know if it needed to be changed. Yes, the second act is weaker and rushed and all of the characters seem to get shortchanged with little closure to each individual's storyline. But there are a lot of characters to work through. The narrative device did have a slight bit of closure when I saw it. I wonder if it would've been better to have aged the narrator versions of Janis and Damian to the point where they were now teachers/counselors at the school and reflecting back on something 10 years ago. Then, at the end we could've had a rundown of "where are they now" - this could mine some valuable comedy, be new and fresh, and even develop into some kind of different finale bringing a bit of closure to each individual storyline. I agree with some who've said the biggest problem is that there is no hummable tune you leave the show with. I was trying to hum the James Bond-esque theme used for Regina, but I couldn't quite get it right. Apex Predator was probably the other one that stuck with me, and maybe What Is Wrong With Me. The set and projections worked well for what they were trying to do, although the way the projections entered/exited did give me a bit of motion sickness - there was so much movement with those! And, the show was a bit over-choreographed and very busy. But, the cast was young and athletic and I was glad to see them really used thoroughly. It looked overpopulated, just like a real high school is. The best part are the performances, but the show is clearly now about the Plastics and Cady really fades into the background, which is a bit odd, but I was ok with it. Taylor really deserves a nomination (as does Ashley) - every moment she was on, she commanded that entire theatre (as Regina should). Janis & Damian were pitch perfect, as were the backup Plastics. My one desire would've been for more different body shapes and sizes and other diverse folks to be integrated into the chorus to create a more realistic view of modern high school students. But, that's just a minor quibble. So, don't believe all the negativity, this show is good. Maybe not quite worth the outrageous full price (or Stub Hub prices), but definitely worth seeing at a slight discount or in the cheap seats. Don't have any buyer's remorse like I initially did!  :)

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 11:13am

The biggest thing both times I saw it (in DC and on Broadway) was that when you imagine a musical version of this movie, you can imagine the score would've had so much potential. There were a couple of songs I did enjoy, but others downright questionable. They fixed that between DC and Broadway, but this doesn't sound like typical Jeff Richmond music. I would've imagined he had input on lyrics and collaborated with Nell Benjamin on that, but I also wonder if the sound (by the orchestrations) is what makes it feel less Kimmy Schmidt/30 Rock, etc. because this is so heavy on pop, rock, and hip-hop. I enjoyed the show, but feels like it needs an overhaul of the score to match the zippy spirit and wit of Fey's book and the film. The closest the score sounds to how I imagined is "Where Do You Belong" (both the complete song and The Plastics' entrance), "Stupid With Love," "Stop" (Damian's new act two opening) and the, now-cut, DC songs "Bossed Up" and "Here (You Can Sit With Us)."

The heavy rock orchestration in this score, as well as other contemporary shows, makes me long for things like My Fair Lady and Carousel. Rock musicals like Hair and JCS, as a genre, are almost fading out of its unique "obscurity" from typical and more traditional show music like Sondheim/R+H because nearly EVERY new 21st century musical is in the style of rock.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 12:57pm

Well, I think it's fair to say that a musical about present day high school kids (and it's target audience of young people) shouldn't be expected to sound like scores from over fifty years ago. I mean, that would just be strange and a very odd fit for the material. I felt like Stars (the biggest cliched, grotesque, and forgettable number) was the closest to anything nearing an old fashioned B'way score. And truthfully, Stars from Les Miz and even from Big The Musical do the cliche far better (and I'm sure there are others too). I think the problem with Jeff's music is he is so well-trained to do pastiche and imitating the style of others that he doesn't have a super-specific voice of his own (maybe that spring-steppy 30 Rock/Kimmy Schmidt type thing, but that seems a very small part of his ouevre) and without that singular, unique voice, it lacks a bit of cohesion you can get with something that's consistent.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 1:15pm

I agree with a lot of what you said, greens, although I think you enjoyed it more than I did.

Also, posts are more readable when you split them into paragraphs.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 3/26/18 at 4:21pm

LOL @ Lizzie! That is true, I didn't do a darn P break! My old English teacher would've had her red pen all over that! I'll do better next time! 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 4:47pm

Any seating advice for Mean Girls?

[greensgreens]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 5:27pm

I was in front mezz toward the left side and it was fine. I don't remember anything being on far stage left or right, so I think you'd be fine pretty much anywhere. And, for this show, with it's big choreography and the fast moving projections, I might recommend sitting back further.

[nycward]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 5:28pm

I saw this show last evening and on the whole had a good time. I'm a Baby Boomer with only a distant memory of this film but a diehard millennial who loved the film accompanied me. It obviously played to its base audience and they went ballistic. The theatre was filled with adorable young women and gay boys all on a high. The production moved like clockwork and was well acted and written. Yes, the score feels a bit generic and repetitive but all production elements are firing on all cylinders. I think the problem lies in the fact that this basically is a slim story that becomes repetitive to fill out a full evening. But enjoyable it is.

As a final note there are obviously book tweaks going on with topical political references and an addition to the opening sequence where Janis and Damian open the show. It is now bookended with a final observation from our "hosts" that ties up the concept. I know this thread spent some time debating that issue.

The grosses are great so I think the show will have a strong presence for the foreseeable future. Those kids just can't keep on attending Wicked forever....or could they :) 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/27/18 at 6:01pm

greensgreens said: "I was in front mezz toward the left side and it was fine. I don't remember anything being on far stage left or right, so I think you'd be fine pretty much anywhere. And, for this show, with it's big choreography and the fast moving projections, I might recommend sitting back further."

Thank you! I was looking at a seat in that same area as well as orchestra row F

[yesraccoons]

Posted: 3/28/18 at 5:47pm

I saw it today and was pretty disappointed. I watched mean girls as kid and it’s a classical to my generation but his musical was just... meh? The music was forgettable, the acting was fine, the book wasn’t remarkable, the costumes were not at all realistic for s teenager (Janis’ coustume for act 1?) though the set was pretty cool. I was pretty disappointed I was hoping it’d be good like Heathers but it just wasn’t.

Wasn’t bad per say but it didn’t make me, or my companions, feel anything which is kinda the point of theatre.

[Theatre Geek2]

Posted: 3/28/18 at 6:42pm

 I noticed that the grosses for last week show a 100.45% capacity.  Are they selling Standing Room?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 7:15pm

According to social media, the show will be frozen as of tonight.

[ethan231h]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 10:15am

Saw the show last night, it was good. Nothing outstanding, nothing bad. However, the performances is what make the show shine. I'm going to begin with Kate Rockwell as Karen, WOW, she is fantastic. Her performance is so funny, and her voice does not disappoint. Her humor is smart, but dumb, it works so well. Ashley Park is also doing great work as Gretchen! Nothing to go crazy about though in my opinion. Taylor Louderman as Regina is of course great, but she performs the role almost identical to the way it is performed in the movie. However, her vocals are KILLER, and I didnt realize she had that much of a powerhouse voice! Kerry Butler is also a standout! Her role sorta reminded me of Alice Ripley in American Psycho, but she is given MUCH MORE material, and it works in her benefit! The rest of the cast is fine. 

I think Tina Fey did a great job with the book/script. There is a nice amount of new and old jokes, and with the show being set in 2018 I felt like the social media references were spot on. I think that the show also raises a bunch of great points about the power of social media, and friendship cliques in general. There is also a lot about female empowerment!!

The music is fine, there is no like main number (in my opinion) but my favorite numbers were, I Can Be (Karens big number), Revenge Party (very catchy), and Do This Thing which again is also catchy. But after that, the rest of the numbers are fine, there really wasnt anything to go crazy about. There also is a big tap number at the top of act 2. I also sort of wished there was like a good ballad or something...but there wasnt, all the numbers were pretty big and splashy. It just sorta annoyed me.

Design.....oh idk where to start. I just am mixed on the LCD screens.....idk.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 10:32am

jacobsnchz14 said: "According to social media, the show will be frozen as of tonight."

What a rip off. If I wanted to see Frozen, I'd've bought a ticket to Frozen... how can they even do this?! This doesn't make any sense!

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 5:48pm

Haterobics, that made me ugly laugh.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 6:02pm

I'm guessing they didn't change the opening number at all? I preferred Wildlife as the opening number.

[DAME]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 6:12pm

I walked away from the lottery the other night. I was one of three guys in the crowd . Something just made me loose interest . I wonder if I won.

[Notreallysilent 2]

Posted: 3/30/18 at 7:29pm

Does anyone know the view from the last few rows in the mezzanine? I figured I’d ask before buying tickets for there

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/31/18 at 6:41pm

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by Mean Girls. The show is very smart, quick, and wildly entertaining. Tina Fey’s book and Jeff Richmond’s score are both so much fun. There is a terrific balance between the classic humor from the film as well as some fresh new jokes peppered in. 

The cast is, as a whole, excellent. All the leads stood out in their own ways. Erika Henningsen was a perfect Cady. Taylor Louderman’s has a powerhouse voice, and her Regina was spot on. Kate Rockwell and Ashley Park are hilarious. I loved how Kerry Butler played multiple characters.

The set is very simple and projections are used heavily, but effectively, to evoke the many different locations. Usually I am not a fan of projections, but I think this is a rare case where they actually worked well and served the overall production. 

Casey Nicolaw has done some really great work here. His direction is very focused yet zippy and allows the material to shine. I don’t think anything here is too over the top which is a problem I typically have with Nicolaw’s shows. 

All in all, I really enjoyed this. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I did not think the show ever felt like it was dragging. If you’re looking for a fun show with lots of laughs and great talent, Mean Girls should be your go to.

Updated On: 3/31/18 at 06:41 PM

[hurahaw]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 3:10pm

Has anyone gone recently that can tell me the current runtime? I'm trying to figure out what time I'll be out on Saturday night. 

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 8:09pm

Does anyone know how much has changed since the first preview? I saw it on first preview and my friends want me to go with them next week, was just curious if a lot or if anything has even changed. 

[Notreallysilent 2]

Posted: 4/3/18 at 11:49pm

Hey sorry to ask this question, but it looks like the only seats left at the price I want are the last two seats in the row in the last row of the mezz. are these even worth it?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/4/18 at 7:44am

Notreallysilent 2 said: "Hey sorry to ask this question, but it looks like the only seats left at the price I want are the last two seats in the row in the last row of the mezz. are these even worth it?"

^^ I was seated towards the very back of the mezzanine, and I thought the view was absolutely fine. The August Wilson has one of the best mezzanines on Broadway IMO.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/4/18 at 12:51pm

I am a huge Casey Nicholaw fan. I love his sense of fun, camp and was wowed by his work on Drowsy Chaperone, Alladin, and Something Rotten  We don't have to talk about Tuck Everlasting because everyone is entitled to at least two mistakes. So of course I bought a $158 ticket to Mean Girls through Show Score.

Why are so many Broadway  shows geared to 12 years old girls? Ever since Wicked ( a show I adore) so much of Broadway caters to 12 year old girls. Frozen, Legally Blonde, Gigi, Anastasia to name a few.

But its Tina Fey (love her) and Casey Nicholaw (love him)   so off I go.

The set is a hodgepodge of video projections. It felt as it the producers thought it worked so well for Dear Evan Hanson, why not do a version of that?  In sum the set was pink and coloruful in an annoying way--derivitive and downright uninteresting. The set popped up like annoying Facebook posts.

The story and the characters were uninvolving and I could care less about these people. As others have mentioned,  it reminded me of Legally Blonde ( as show I detested) which was eons better than Mean Girls cause at least Legally Blonde had sets.

So I started thinking about my laundry. And whenever I start thinking about  my laundry I know its time to leave.  And yes I left at intermission so this is only a review of act 1. But you couldn't pay me to sit thought Act 2 because frankly, Act 1 was about Tide, Shout and fabric softener sheets.

So as to the best seats?  At just about any other musical. Wicked, Beautiful, Hello Dolly. Book of Mormon

Sorry Casey.. I am a big fan. Cash your check and move on to your next blockbuster.