Cappies Review: 'Mean Girls High School Edition' At Madison High School

By Izzie Buitrago of Riverside High School

Malicious madness makes its way to the stage of James Madison High School in their magnificent musical, "Mean Girls: High School Edition." When teenager Cady Heron (Naomi Mudrick) moves from Africa to the U.S., she is faced with culture shock while learning to navigate real high school for the first time - an environment filled with quirky teachers, judgmental peers, cute guys, and of course, mean girls. When she falls in with the wrong crowd, Cady believes that being popular - and even cruel - is the only way to survive high school. Through this experience, she and her friends discover the real value of being yourself and choosing what's right rather than what's easy.

The cast of "Mean Girls" at James Madison was well above average for a high school production. From the starring leads to the dynamic ensemble, the performers worked exceptionally well together to deliver a memorable show. Naomi Mudrick did an astounding job portraying the ambitious role of Cady. Her voice was made for musical theatre and she impressively showcased her ability to emphasize strong character development.

As the fearsome trio of the plastics, Elizabeth Cha (Regina George), Caroline Kugler (Gretchen Wieners), and Grace Rodstrom (Karen Smith) each embraced the stage with confidence, enthusiasm, and high energy. Their strong chemistry with each other made the Plastics feel even more real, making them a huge highlight of the show.

Two other notable actors that really stepped into the spotlight and stole the show were Nate Borrowman as Damian and Gwyneth Kemeny as Janis. Borrowman dazzled in the showstoppers "Where Do You Belong" and "Stop" where his comedic timing, incredible physicality, and delightful tap with the ensemble turned these numbers into unforgettable highlights. While Borrowman fully embraced Damian every second he was on stage, Kemeny used the power of her bold and commanding voice, which was made for Janis, to highlight the key themes of identity, feminism, and friendship.

The ensemble presented an impressive level of professionalism. Each performer was dedicated to their character, the scene, and the show as a whole. They brought so much energy to the stage and kept the audience enthused during the entire performance.

For a rather small auditorium, the students involved in the technical aspects of the show did an exceptional job keeping the quality of the show intact. The orchestra, set in front of the stage, was made of many talented students and they worked well with the sound team (Patrick Thurston, Emir Azari, and the Mic Minions) to maintain control over vocals and instrumentals. The prop team (Know Rodriguez and the JMHS Prop Team) mastered many significant props for the production which helped enhance the story. For example, they put so much detail into replicating the iconic Burn Book by including little doodles on the front and writing notes throughout the pages. While "Mean Girls" is not incredibly tech-heavy, the students of the tech team at James Madison certainly satisfied all expectations and ensured that every tech element enhanced the story.

All in all, the cast and crew of "Mean Girls: High School Edition" at James Madison High School put together an exceptional production filled with comedic characters, efficient technical elements, show stopping songs, and heartfelt reminders of what empathy, loyalty, and meaningful relationships mean in high school.

"Mean Girls High School Edition" was performed from May 1 to 3.