School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play
THE STORY: Paulina, the reigning queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school, has her sights set on the Miss Global Universe pageant. But the arrival of Ericka, a new student with undeniable talent and beauty, captures the attention of the pageant recruiter—and Paulina’s hive-minded friends. This buoyant and biting comedy explores the universal similarities (and glaring differences) facing teenage girls across the globe.
“…fascinating…The nasty-teen comedy genre emerges wonderfully refreshed and even deepened by its immersion in a world it never considered…Beneath the infectious silliness of [the] play’s adopted genre, the ugly question of internalized racism lurks…With no underlining and without sacrificing laughs, [Bioh] is able…to bring the audience to an unexpectedly ambivalent conclusion about the morality of cultural dominance.” —The New York Times.
“…funny and fast-paced…brisk and clear…[Bioh] knows how to craft bouncy, juicy dialogue that performers can have fun with. She also knows that there’s a sting inside all this fun.” —New York Magazine.
“[SCHOOL GIRLS] is a ferociously entertaining morality tale that proves as heartwarming as it is hilarious…The clever writing features plenty of astute period-appropriate touches…SCHOOL GIRLS…arrives as a delightful surprise.” —The Hollywood Reporter.
