The Marvelous Wonderettes tells the story of four songleaders (Missy, Cindy Lou, Suzy, and Betty Jean), who are singing for their prom, after the boy group wasn't allowed to. Act Two takes place at their ten year reunion.
The Marvelous Wonderettes contains examples of:
- Ambiguously Bi: Betty Jean. Although she has a crush on Johnny, she's also vying for attention from Cindy Lou, she prefers BJ over Betty Jean, and she's more tomboyish than the other girls. The script confirms that Betty Jean does have a crush on Cindy Lou, but she doesn't understand what that means yet.
- Attention Deficet Ooh Shiny: Suzy isn't exactly dumb, but she regularly gets distracted and over excited, sometimes forgetting basic rules.
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: A bit of a variation. Suzy is blonde, and Betty Jean is a redhead. Missy has hazel brown hair while Cindy Lou's hair is described as raven.
- Brainless Beauty: Suzy, who ends up being prom queen at the end of act one, is quite dim, in contrast to her friend, Missy.
- Brainy Brunette
- Missy is the most straightforward example. She regularly has to have things go right, and she even wears glasses, so you know that she's smart.
- Cindy Lou is also an example, albeit not as straightforward. She is, however, manipulative towards Betty Jean in Act One.
- Bromantic Comedy: A genderbent version.
- Dumb Blonde: Suzy.
- Fiery Redhead: Betty Jean.
- Four-Girl Ensemble: Missy is the team mom, regularly making sure everything is in check, Cindy Lou is the pretty one, Suzy is the childish and sweet one, and Betty Jean is tomboyish and athletic.
- Happily Married: Suzy in Act Two , although she's the only one, in the first show. Betty Jean's husband regularly cheats on her, Missy hasn't been proposed to yet, and Cindy Lou's boyfriend died a few years back.
- Large Ham: Betty Jean.
- Obvious Pregnancy: Suzy, in Act Two
- Revenge: It becomes a running gag in Act One, where Betty Jean tries to interrupt or ruin Cindy Lou's performances. They never work, as Cindy Lou normally bounces right back up.
- We Used to Be Friends: Cindy Lou and Betty Jean, although Cindy Lou let Johnny cheat on Betty Jean with her, stole her song, and then bragged about it
- "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: The basis of Act Two.
