Mean girls never go out of date. "Heathers: The Musical," which is receiving a boisterous production at Red Branch Theatre Company, is a 2014 Off-Broadway musical derived from a 1989 movie about the ruthless quest for popularity at an Ohio high school.There is a primal simplicity to the show's premise: what would you be willing to do in order to be accepted by the cool kids? That's the question posed at Westerburg High School, whose socialpyramid is topped by three pretty and privileged girls who are all named Heather. They are feared and envied by a nerdier girl named Veronica Sawyer (played by Winona Ryder in the movie), who essentially becomes their personal servant in her determination to become a cool kid.To her credit, Veronica is not entirely sure whether this is a wise course of action. For one thing, Veronica has a devoted friend, the overweight Martha, whose appearance subjects her to much taunting by the three Heathers.Veronica's world really gets rattled when she meets a mysterious newcomer, J.D. (played by Christian Slater in the movie). He favors dark clothing, pretentiously quotes the 19th-century French poet Charles Baudelaire, introduces Veronica to the brain-freezing attributes of a Slurpee, and has murderous suggestions for how Veronica should handle the three Heathers.If J.D. easily fits the villain role, one could argue on his behalf that he's boldly proposing deadly actions that follow through on Veronica's fantasies about getting back at the Heathers and their followers.In both movie and musical form, "Heathers" taps into a payback motif that anybody who was ever picked on in high school can relate to. This probably translates to about 90 percent of the general population, and most likely 99 percent of the sensitive people who attend theater.Although it is intellectually difficult to justify the homicidal plot that takes "Heathers" into disturbing ethical territory, it's also difficult to deny that the revenge-driven story provides vicarious if guilt-laden satisfaction.One reason why you may find yourself laughing at such things is that there is a mostly silly tone in the book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe. Catchy tunes and sitcom-level scenes make it easy to chuckle.This isn't to say that watching "Heathers: The Musical" is an entirely guilt-free experience. After all, there have been enough horrible real-world deadly incidents in high schools since the movie came out in 1989 to give one pause.Also, the musical's second act is not quite successful in its attempt to balance the silliness with more serious considerations. If the show itself can't really decide how to deal with this unsettling material, it's not surprising that theatergoers might feel a bit unhinged by the raunchy language, killer storyline and mixed ethical signals being sent. Odds are you'll like the show, but parents may want to leave small kids at home.Certainly one thing to really like about this production is that its cast takes to the material like, well, young adults for whom high school wasn't all that long ago. Their eager sincerity makes it a breeze to overlook the tendency among some of the supporting players to act even more broadly than the material warrants. Just the same, director Amelia Acosta Powell should encourage these actors to curb their cartoonish enthusiasm.What matters most here is that the two lead actors fill their roles with bracing conviction. As Veronica, Vivian Cook has nervous energy to spare. She does a fine job of conveying Veronica's uncertainly about whether she should emulate the Heathers or consider rubbing them out.Likewise, Hasani Allen makes you believe in the deranged J.D., who is only too happy to act upon what he takes to be Veronica's wishes. Allen reinforces just how creepy J.D. can be as he turns the school into what amounts to a horror movie setting. By the time he's done, you almost expect the ultimate picked-on high school girl, Carrie, to make an appearance.There are emotionally powerful solo and duet musical numbers for the lead characters and it's nice to hear Cook and Allen join voices on "Dead Girl Walking," "Our Love is God," and "Seventeen." Music director John Henderson and the band provide steady support here and throughout the show.The most affecting supporting performance is by Amy Williamson as Veronica's best friend, Martha. Poor Martha is one of those high school students who does her best to endure the mockery to which the cool kids subject her. Williamson brings out the inner toughness that will get Martha through this bullying environment.As for the three Heathers, they sure are mean. Heather Chandler (Tiara Whaley), Heather Duke (Megan Bunn) and Heather McNamara (Geocel Batista) are defined by their big hair and bad manners. That proves to be a deadly combination."Heathers: The Musical" runs through Aug. 27 at Red Branch Theatre Company, 9130-I Red Branch Road in Columbia. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.; there also are 2 p.m. Saturday matinees on Aug. 20 and 27. Tickets are $28, in advance; $22 for students and seniors, in advance; $30 for all at the door. Call 410-997-9352 or go to www.redbranchtheatrecompany.com