AMONG THE SEA OF MIDTERMS, FTX PRODUCTIONS COMES BEARING A LIFEBOAT WITH MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL
FTX Productions, a group of University of Ottawa law students drolly named after the campus law building, puts on a musical yearly. This year’s production of Mean Girls is funny, well acted, and if the dress rehearsal I attended was any indication, technically well done.
For fans of the Mean Girls story, musical, or the original movie, the law students’ production will feel familiar, with some funny Canadiana changes that elicited a handful of laughs. It helps that the source material is so strong— few modern writers are as witty as Tina Fey, and the official musical adaptation is widely considered a fun time.
Lauren Miller, and Jarek Landori-Hoffman, who play ‘art freak’ Janis Sarkisian and ‘too gay to function’ Damian Hubbard, are both incredibly talented. Miller has a beautiful voice, and I found myself blown away the first time she began singing. Landori-Hoffman similarly was an incredible actor, with great comedic timing, a great singing voice, and was one of the strongest dancers of the bunch.
Alexandra Cunningham, who plays Gretchen Wieners, similarly had a beautiful voice, and her solo was one of the most grounded and moving of the musical. Her uptight demeanor contrasted well with Gabrielle Muzychka, who plays the ‘dumb hot girl’ Karen Smith. I found myself glancing at Muzychka during scenes always to find that she was engaged in some clever bit in the background, like playing with the bobble on her Santa hat.
Nina Hutsulak (Cady Herron) and Kate Ferguson (Regina George) are solid leads, and embody the shifting power dynamics of the plot well physically and emotionally. Hutsulak should also be proud of the performance she gets out of this cast as the vocal director.
Allison Arcand, the choreographer, should also be noted. Where Do You Belong? One of the opening numbers of the musical was my favourite choreographed piece of the musical. The various ways that the different cliques are represented through dance is very funny, and creates a dynamic experience.
The stage dressing was fun, but stripped back; beyond some cleverly painted chalkboards, you should not expect much. But it was made up for with well done lighting and a background music-track, coordinated by Mercedes Parsons, and the backstage production team.
Finally, Anna Chaprun, who both acted and directed, should receive a note of praise. Chaprun has directed a tight, two and a half hour musical that, despite being made up of busy law students, feels anything but rushed.
Mean Girls is a fun time, and a chance to see some future high-powered lawyers have fun, and act like dramatic teenagers for an evening.
Tickets are on sale, buy them now before Mean Girls closes on Mar 14.
