So, apparently, it is possible to ride a tandem bike in the Cannon Falls High School auditorium. Just in case any bets were riding on that. The reason for the unusual event was not for giggles (actually, it probably was), but for the theater program’s musical rendition of Mean Girls: Mean Girls Jr, which may contend for the best musical in the past few years.
Being a musical, Mean Girls of course required some vocal exercise from the cast. And, like always, it turned out satisfactory. Taking into account the instantaneous finality of live performances, the singing was the tangible product of undeniable practice and effort from the theater crew. Particularly, the inclusion of the ensemble in many musical numbers proved to be a prudent directorial choice. In the department of solo singing, all of the roles seemed well-practiced, but freshman Willow O’Gorman as Gretchen undoubtedly killed it as she belted out “What’s Wrong With Me?” near the climax of the storyline. It’s unquestionable, therefore, that the singing performances exceeded the benchmark of high-school-level musicals.
Unsurprisingly, the characters didn’t simply stand static while they sang or otherwise performed. It was expected that they would move around some, maybe throw in a few dances. What was unexpected was every one of them busting it down to the extreme. Such levels of groove-getting-on are evidence of well-rehearsed choreography and high performing standards. Attendee Cindy Zheng agreed, saying she “really enjoyed how they incorporated the dancing” into the musical. The well-executed dances added an accent to the performance that may have been lacking in previous shows that had fewer dances in the script.
The dances complemented the realistic acting well. Again, the acting seemed to be refined and rehearsed to an extent that is above acceptable for a high school production, but not uncommon in the Cannon Falls theater’s history. The actors did well in moving past memory blanks and other uncertainties on stage.
Where this musical really distinguished itself from its predecessors, however, was the humor. It may be to the credit of the script, but nonetheless the Mean Girls performance was far from bland. Whether it be the casual student-teacher flirt during attendance or the tried and true “making stupid jokes,” the crowd was certainly not silent during jokes. Even when the humor was very clearly directed toward an older audience, there were still some funny moments that could resonate with the average high schooler. A spectator commented that the “play was funny” when asked about the performance.
Through the work of the directors and cast, the Cannon Falls theater program put on a show that lives up to the club’s reputation, which has been built over the past few years. It also differed from previous musicals with varied singing and dancing, which made it seem fresher and more polished. While the entire show was fun to watch, it would be ill-pressed to find an act better than the tandem bike spectacle (without a doubt the most memorable moment).
