Hull New Theatre – until 30th May 2026
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
4****
Mean Girls, adapted from Tina Fey’s book, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Neil Benjamin, and based on the Paramount Pictures film, arrived at Hull New Theatre last night in impressive style.
With a brilliant cast and an outstanding ensemble, the production delivered an impressive performance and fully earned the ovation it received from the audience.
Cady Heron (Emily Lake) arrives from Kenya with her mother (Faye Tozer) and, tired of being home-schooled, enrols at North Shore High School. Having never attended school before, she is quickly introduced to the complex social politics of teenage life, including who to speak to, who to avoid, and where everyone fits in.
She soon befriends Damian Hubbard (Max Gill) and Janis Sarkisian (Sadie Levett), who introduce her to the school’s various cliques, from jocks to art freaks. Before long, Cady comes face to face with The Plastics, the school’s elite girl group: Gretchen Wieners (Kiara Dario), Karen Smith (Sophie Pourret), and their formidable leader, Regina George (Vivian Panka). Cady agrees to infiltrate the group and report back to Damian and Janis, but complications arise when she falls for Aaron Samuels (Ben Oatley), Regina’s ex-boyfriend. When Regina realises Aaron is beginning to return Cady’s feelings, she decides she wants him back.
The story then charts Regina’s fall from power and Cady’s rise in her place, along with the strain this shift places on all their friendships.
Under the musical direction of Tom Slade, the orchestra performed the score superbly. Combined with the strength of the cast, this made for a highly enjoyable evening at the theatre. Fans of the film are unlikely to be disappointed; this production is well worth seeing.