Taking on such an iconic millennial movie could prove to be a task that would leave most falling flat. However, the Leesville Mainstage class took on the job with excitement — delivering a great performance.
The film and adapted stage version depicts the life of the “plastics,” three high school sophomores who stand as the epitome of American high school cliquiness. They soon prey on the latest newcomer, Cady (Caroline Chappell), who has lived her entire life home schooled in Africa. The ‘mean’ girls, Regina (Mary Kate Bowers), Gretchen (Kirsten Smothers) and Karen (Madeline Graebe), soon pull Cady into their intimate circle of gossip. Cady, along with her “freak” friends Janis (Hannah Campo) and Damian (Eliot Winkler), formulates a plan to bring down Regina, Queen Bee.
Caroline Chappell, junior, and Mary Kate Bowers, senior, stole the show as leading ladies. Bowers held a balanced air of sassiness and sophistication, while never faltering on her mean-girl attitude. Chappell transformed from a foreign homebody to a catty ringleader, and Hannah Campo, who played Janis Ian, brought dark humor to the stage.
And while the story is about high school mean girls, Jake Banasiewicz, Eliot Winkler and Jacob Melvin (Mr. Duvall) all sustained the limited male ratio with strong presentation.
The show was (fortunately) almost identical to the original film. The witty side remarks and sarcastic humor was maintained throughout the hour. Every famous line was referenced from “Does she even go here?,” to “It’s October 3rd.” Newbies (to the movie), if there are any, would have found the show funny and pleasantly-paced. It was just long enough, with every line spoken clear and loud.
It was a clever choice for a high school play and kept the audience engaged and laughing the entire show.
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