Lively and fun ‘Mean Girls’ musical packs a powerful message

Amid the high energy of lively songs and imaginative dance routines, the musical “Mean Girls” has a message to convey about the importance of being kind, or at least kinder, to one another.

In our highly divided society where we tend to look for ways to cut people down rather than build them up, it’s a message worth adopting.

And it comes through by the end of a spirited touring production of Tina Fey’s musical version of her hit 2004 movie, which is playing through Sunday at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Like the movie (though updated to include references to social media posts), the musical is about the rules of social status and cliques among students, and the high-powered trio known as the Plastics who rule life at North Shore High in the Chicago suburbs.

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That’s where a new student, 16-year-old Cady Heron, has arrived after being home-schooled by her parents in Kenya. Cady trades one jungle for another, using her understanding of power structures in the animal kingdom to navigate the treacherous school hallways.

One of the early songs, “Where Do You Belong?” is a bouncy number that explains all the different groups, which ones to avoid and which to envy. It is performed by two outcasts, the openly gay Damian (played by Eric Huffman with a smile that masks pain) and the defiant, angry and overlooked Janis (played with fierce detachment by Lindsay Heather Pearce).

They adopt and guide Cady until she can figure out her place and, seeing an opening, encourage Cady to infiltrate the Plastics to hopefully knock them down a bit. But no one counts on how easily Cady adapts to her new power status and becomes one of them, which she thinks might help her win over Aaron, the cute boy she likes from her math class.

Not surprisingly, just about every character is filled with some kind of angst, and it could be sad to witness the social pressures if Fey didn’t keep the tone light with humorous banter. Nadina Hassan as the Plastics leader Regina George presents a stern demeanor and a look of disdain for just about everything. Still, you can tell she’s afraid of losing her power. And her two supposed besties who should be sitting pretty, are both walking that same fine line between happiness and despair. Jasmine Rogers is earnest as the eager-to-please Gretchen, and Morgan Ashley Bryant makes the dim-witted Karen more than just an air-head.

English Bernhardt is delightful as Cady, particularly in her sweeter moments. She’s an open, smart and curious young woman, but it becomes difficult to watch her become someone she actually abhors. Adante Carter has charm as Aaron, who likes the Cady he first meets in class, not the one who is emulating Regina, who turns out to be his ex.

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Huffman and Pearce make Damian and Janis seem like the best-adjusted students, even though they also have their issues. They are compelling because of how the actors give them their own kind of power. Damien uses snarky comments and fun tap routines and Pearce gets some powerhouse rock ballads to express Janis’s feelings. Heather Ayers also is fun in multiple roles as a teacher accused of criminal activity and Regina’s mother who still wants to be one of the girls.

Fey’s book is set to a rock-infused score by her husband, Jeff Richmond, with lyrics by Nell Benjamin that suit the characters – each has their own musical voice, though they’re not instantly memorable.

The story moves along with a smooth fluidity in the staging and inventive choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who uses cafeteria trays and tables and classroom desks to bring added life to the wide-open stage that becomes different locations through the smart video designs of Finn Ross and Adam Young.

The national tour is nearing the end of its run with four Florida stops in Sarasota, Naples, Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale.

At Tuesday’s Sarasota opening, members of Actors’ Equity Association passed out leaflets encouraging patrons to sign an online petition supporting the union in contract negotiations with the Broadway League for a new contract covering national tours. The union, which represents more than 51,000 stage managers and actors, has authorized a strike on all Broadway tours if necessary to help press a new agreement.

‘Mean Girls’

Book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. Reviewed April 11, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Through April 16. Tickets are $47-$122. 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Tina Fey’s stage musical of lively ‘Mean Girls’ pushes hopeful message