Biglerville High School’s spring musical is like, so fetch.
For the uninformed, that is one of the iconic lines from the hit Broadway musical based on the 2004 film, “Mean Girls,” written by Tina Fey.
The story begins when awkward teen Cady Heron, portrayed by Biglerville senior Sylviona Perry, begins life at an American high school after living in Kenya and being homeschooled by her family. Her new friends, Damien (senior Connor Howley) and Janis (eighth grader Helena Rose Patrono), quickly bring Cady up to speed on the social hierarchy of the school. At the very top of the food chain are “the Plastics,” a clique led by the beautifully cruel Regina George, brought to life by senior Kiersten Englebert. She is flanked by her pretty in pink minions, Gretchen Wieners (senior Alyvia Foltz) and Karen Smith (eighth grader Olivia Pellegrini).
Over the course of several spirited songs, Cady and her friends hatch a plot to infiltrate the Plastics and topple Regina’s throne. Cady captures Regina’s attention as the new girl and is brought into her inner circle, where she witnesses first-hand just how mean these girls can be. As Cady navigates this double life, she begins to lose her sense of self and instead mirrors the qualities of the bullies she once sought to overthrow. If that weren’t enough, Cady finds herself crushing on Regina’s ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels, played by eighth grader Isaac Chapman.
The audience should prepare for a night of drama, laughter, and perhaps even a few gasps at the daring one-liners they will hear delivered by the talented young cast. While the students are presenting the high school version of the Broadway show, the musical does contain mature themes and dialogue. This reality is acknowledged with a special message in the playbill, which reassures the audience that approvals were obtained from the administration and school board. In addition, the playbill denounces bullying and encourages the audience to keep the true message of “Mean Girls” in mind.
“I think the overall message is great,” Englebert said Wednesday after a dress rehearsal.
Although she plays the biggest bully of them all, Englebert said she appreciates how Regina comes to realize that she needs to change her ways. Englebert presents Regina as the ice queen she is, and one with soaring vocals to match her powerful stance.
This weekend’s show is especially exciting for Englebert, who will celebrate not only her final performance at BHS but her birthday, too.
“It’s really bittersweet,” she said. “This is a great one to go out on…last year we begged our director to let us do it.”
Perry, the Cady to Englebert’s Regina, agreed it will be difficult to say goodbye to the Biglerville stage. She has performed alongside Englebert since they were freshmen.
Perry said she especially enjoys singing “Do This Thing” in Act Two, where Cady joins the Mathletes in their state championship. In this song, she belts out another iconic line, “The limit does not exist!”
As a homeschooled student herself, Perry said she connects to Cady’s story.
From big movements to subtle facial expressions, Perry delivers a heightened performance that complements the talents of her castmates. On Wednesday, students carried on as professionals as they battled through a few technical difficulties.
Director/producer Shane Miller said the students adapted to a musical that is written with a much larger cast and crew in mind.
“It’s just hard work from start to finish,” he said, but “the kids really wanted to do this.”
This year’s production includes 10 seniors, and Miller said their absence will be felt next spring. Productions are open to eighth graders as well, he said, with the hope that the younger students will take an interest in theater that carries through to high school.
The “Mean Girls” cast and crew includes several extremely talented eighth graders who hold their own alongside their elder peers.
The Canners will perform the high school version of “Mean Girls” this weekend only at Biglerville High School, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the door at a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Don’t forget to wear pink.
