Well Worth the Wait

School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play – Goodman Theatre

With an affectionate nod to such films as “Heathers,” “Legally Blonde,” “Mean Girls” and even “Cinderella,” actress/playwright Jocelyn Bioh’s funny and often touching new play heralds a joyful return to live theatre in Chicago. It’s a comic drama that’s inspired by a real-life incident, and it’s also prompted by her own mother’s schooldays at the real Aburi Girls High School, the Ghana boarding school where this play takes place. Bioh’s comedy is a delicious 85-minute one-act that brings joy, entertainment and a powerful message to Chicago audiences. 

Ms Bioh found the impetus for her play in the brouhaha that erupted after Yayra Nego, a light-skinned biracial woman, born and raised in the Midwest, and the daughter of an African father and Caucasian American mother, was crowned Miss Universe Ghana 2011. The playwright chose to adapt and dramatize this thought-provoking event, while paying homage to her mother’s stories about being a “mean girl” at Aburi High School.

Although Headmistress Francis tries keeping her girls in tow, while also guiding their traditional education, one of her prize students believes that she actually runs the school. Paulina is the queen bee. She’s a pretty, but pushy, seemingly undaunted 18-year-old who’s the leader of a pack of less-confident young classmates. Her coterie include cousins Mercy and Gifty, both giddy, eager-t0-please 16-year-olds; shy, insecure younger student, Nana, living under Paulina’s thumb, and who’s constantly fighting a losing battle with food; and Ama, Paulina’s closest peer, who walks in Paulina’s shadow, and, like the others, will do and say whatever it takes to please their boss.

A recruiter is scheduled to arrive at the school to choose a representative from Ghana to ultimately appear in the Miss Universe Global Pageant. Paulina is sure that she has this in the bag, especially when backed by her subservient gang of girls. But when pretty Ericka Boafo arrives, Paulina begins to  feel threatened and her confidence starts to dwindle. Ericka, a lighter-skinned young girl of African heritage, comes from the USA. She’s been brought up in Ohio, and claims to be the daughter of a famous Ghana cocoa company magnate. She arrives bearing a pleasant personality, a backpack of chocolate bars and lots of exciting stories about life in America. 

When Ms Eloise Amponsah shows up, the beauty pageant recruiter takes an immediate liking to Ericka. Having once been a schoolmate with headmistress Francis, and a “mean girl” herself, the two middle-age women begin sparring and divulging their accomplishments since high school. When the beauty contest begins, we come to understand the real deciding factor in this competition. And it’s then that we watch with anticipation as the teen queen bee is about to get stung.

Behind all the backstabbing, belittlement and teenage banter, this play is a humorous portrayal of how colorism rules the world. The young ladies of Aburi High School are a bit naive to the fact that the world rewards those whose skin and facial features are closest to being Caucasian, even in darkest Africa. To bridge this problem, some girls secretly purchase caustic lotions that claim to lighten one’s skin, but only leave blisters and bleeding. 

Beauty pageants have been around since the early 1920’s, but it wasn’t until Vanessa Williams won the title of Miss America in 1983 that an African-American woman wore the crown. There were those who decried chosing a woman of color to represent the United States, and, because of this, Miss Williams was stripped of her title after some nude photos suddenly appeared in Penthouse Magazine. But despite this event, Vanessa Williams went on to success, becoming a popular singer, television and Broadway performer.

Lili-Anne Brown, one of Chicago’s most talented actresses and an incomparable director, in her own right, skillfully helms this production. The original presentation was supposed to open at the Goodman, just as the pandemic was closing down all Chicago theatres. But now it’s back at the Goodman with a polished, superior cast, backed by a dream team of supporting artists, all working tirelessly to bring Ms Bioh’s play to life. 

Beautiful, talented Ciera Dawn, who’s starred in many wonderful productions around Chicago, leads the cast as Paulina. Once again she brings a wealth of gifts and talent to the role of this anti-hero. Kyrie Courter, another familiar face to Windy City theatergoers, offers honesty and  humanity to the role of Ericka. Just as she did in Writers Theatre’s “Next to Normal,” Ms Courter brings a modicum of humor, and then rips your heart out with her authenticity. Both actresses possess incredible singing voices, as well, which dominate the talent contest, blasting out Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All.”

Skilled actress Tania Richard makes a strong, no-nonsense Headmistress Francis. She’s particularly brilliant as she goes head-to-head with Lanise Antoine Shelley, as Eloise Amponsah. Ms. Shelley is hilarious as the former Miss Ghana, a woman who still wears her crown and sash, strutting and posing for anyone watching her. She speaks with a slight British accent that belies her African upbringing. The woman’s determination to find the next Miss Universe is motivated by a likely raise in both her status and salary. She creates a particularly memorable character who’s both pathetic and pricelessly funny.

The actresses who play the other schoolgirls are equally terrific and a joy to behold. Adia Alli is so sweet as Gifty, the youngster struggling valiently to learn how to read via Judy Blume books. Tiffany Renee Johnson, who wowed audiences in “A Doll’s House” at Writers Theatre, is a funny, feisty Mercy. Together, the two young ladies often work as a team, humorously speaking in unison and completing each other’s sentences. Adhana Reid is as captivating as she is comely as Ama, the student Paulina keeps around as her accomplice, but who she’s actually blackmailing. And Ashley Crowe wins the audience’s hearts as Nana, the slightly overweight young lady who Paulina enjoys bullying and berating. When Nana finally breaks free, finds her backbone and returns Paulina’s rebukes, the audience loudly cheers for her.

The production is appropriately set within a stunning scenic design by Yu Shibagaki. A cafeteria/multipurpose room in the school, the stage features multiple levels and glows in brilliant earth tones. It’s also dominated by at least a dozen ceiling fans that keep the atmosphere in motion. Jason Lynch’s lighting provides the perfect moods, effectively lighting up the sparkling pageant costumes created by Samantha C. Jones. Her use of authentic African colors and patterns in her work is equally arresting. 

All in all, this production is a perfect return to live theatre, offering an entertaining comic drama with a timely message, all propelled by a stage filled with gifted girl power. It was certainly well worth the wait.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented July 30-August 29 by the Goodman Theatre in the Albert Theatre. Capacity is limited and masks are required.
Tickets are available by calling the Goodman box office at 312.443.3800 or by going to BoxOffice@GoodmanTheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.