University of Minnesota law students typically spend endless hours hunched over casebooks and preparing for the bar exam. To find a much-needed break from the case studies, the Theatre of the Relatively Talentless has offered a vital space for creative expression within the Minnesota Law student and faculty community since 2002.

Through its annual parody musicals, TORT entertains the Minnesota legal community and beyond with sharp, law-themed satire. This year, they took on a beloved film classic with a twist: a production of “Mean Girls,” reimagined as “Moot Girls.”

Melissa Estrada Felix stars as Cady Hearing, a 2L or second-year law student, who transfers to Minnesota Law after a year of online Zoom classes from her family’s basement. Having grown up in Northern Minnesota near the Boundary Waters, Cady arrives with a vested interest in water law, a focus area that proves to be full of social outcasts within the fictional social hierarchy.

What I admired most about this production was its unapologetic willingness to be unserious. In a field defined by high-stakes pressure and rigid rules, seeing a group of future lawyers and current faculty find a way to step away from the casebooks and take lighthearted jabs at their own academic careers provided a refreshing insider look.

The production breathed new life into cinematic staples, swapping “On Wednesdays we wear pink,” for “On Wednesdays we wear pantsuits,” and introducing the cardinal rule: you cannot be study buddies with your new best friend’s ex-study buddy, especially when it comes to Regina Judge, fabulously performed by John Patterson.

For those in the audience who might not be aware of legal terminology or Minnesota-based references, the playbill provided a thorough ‘TORT-ionary,” a glossary of all the terminology an audience member might be curious about.

With a simple set and costuming, the actors stood out by leaning into references to Minnesota Law’s most beloved figures and communities. Law professor Bradley “The Hammer” Clary made a memorable appearance to address the unquestioned rumor that he has never lost a court case — a moment audiences approved of with laughter and applause. 

The school’s very own Fighting Mondales — the Minnesota Law School’s hockey team — also made an appearance as one of the campus groups recruiting new members, featuring Aaron Samuels played by Vanessa Villasenor.

Aiding in the comedy were clever musical renditions of recognizable hits. Transforming the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha”  into “Don’t Cha [Wish Your Lawyer]” and Flo Rida’s “Low” into a simply titled “Law.”

The latter came from a standout performance by Elliott Gold, who stepped into the role of water law enthusiast Kevin G. These musical numbers were packed with legal commentary and performed with infectious, high-energy effort that kept audiences laughing throughout the two and a half hour performance.

Ultimately, “Moot Girls” brought a sharp, satirical lens to the Minnesota Law community and the fan favorite film “Mean Girls.” It was an experience that the audience and cast clearly enjoyed together, and proved our future lawyers can win over the jury and audience alike.