For most of us, the idea of reliving high school is nothing short of a nightmare. When Romy and Michele are invited to their ten year high school reunion Michele envisions the whole experience as a fun road trip, while Romy, very reluctantly, agrees to go but only if they come up with something to impress their classmates. To this end the two hatch an outrageous scheme to totally re-invent themselves. With an ’80s and ’90s pop-inspired score, Romy & Michele: The Musical is an absolute feel-good joyride
It’s the soundtrack that lets this production down. While the songs (by Gwendolyn Sanford and Brandon Jay) are all well-executed in the moment, they lack sticking power. Looking through the track list now – a mixture of Nineties-inspired ballads and dance numbers – I can picture the staging and energetic choreography of nearly each number (giant fruit magnets! dancing with scarves!) but fail to conjure the memory of a single melody. Hats off, though, to choreographer Karla Puno Garcia, who adds her own flair while maintaining the integrity of some of the film’s most iconic scenes – lovers of the reunion dance moment will understand.
Uncanny screen chemistry between Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow is a main reason the movie clicks. As directed by Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages), the musical’s stars don’t stray far from their film templates. Bundy (Legally Blonde, Hairspray) leans hard into a Valley Girl accent, while Lindsay (Newsies), delivers lines in deft clueless fashion. They bring likable BFF energy to this buddy comedy, and while they won’t make anyone forget the onscreen duo, they give it their all — just like Romy and Michele.
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
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