Image by Jessie Jay
"We are the Tigers" is what happens if you merge "Bring it On" with "Slumber Party Massacre", as a cheer-team full of young women with Issues find themselves under attack as members of the team are knifed during a sleepover party. Preston Max Allen's script combines a lot of the familiar material with a score full of polyphony, wit, angst and even the occasional thoughtful bit as the cheer team find themselves not only up against a serial killer, but a few moral dilemmas as well.
It's given an energetic production choreographed and directed by Chiara Assetta, with a rich cast of young performers. Leading the team and the cast is Brianna Bishop as the trying-to-put-a-brave-face on things Riley. Her deputy, Cairo, is played with delciious mean-girl-ness by Olivia Vasquez. AJ Betts gives Kate an emotional depth as she yearns for her drifting-away-friend, Chess, who feels worth the attention and the heartbreak as played by Chelsea Dawson. Jenny Guigayoma as new-girl Mattie is delightfully fresh-faced and practically steals the show with her act-two-opener. Artemis Alfonzetti is compelling as the messy alcoholic Farrah, Caitlin McCallig moves the emotions as the not-fully-accepted mascot Reese, Anabel Jamieson amuses as the religious Annabelle, and Pippin Carrol (who I've been reviewing on here for a dozen years at this point) as the token male Clarke is suitably dreamy and emotive.
Alice Vance's set design feels maybe a little squishy in the tight Hayes space - there's a lot going on in between basement, bathroom and porch to squeeze in. And it is a show that holds up better in the second half as the stresses get more acute for the characters - with the final who-done-it being both surprising and yet inevitable in retrospect. The production largely balances the challenge between playing with familiar tropes and looking a little deeper behind them, and presents both the nasty fun of a slasher and the heart of a teenage-girl-bonding-story pretty well.
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