I'm sorry I saw this play too late to join in the previous conversation, but wanted to post my thoughts.
For background, I've been a 13-year-old girl, and I've been around a lot of 13-year-old girls, including those involved in competitive team sports. I watched some of the TV show Dance Moms. I read the Playwright's notes in the program before seeing the play. I understand if someone might think you shouldn't have all that background to understand/like the play, but that's where I was.
I really liked and admire it. I got most of what was presented (at least I feel I did) as an expression of this pivotal time in a girl/woman's life.
The notes give a good explanation of the casting, but I wondered if it was completely blind, with one of the youngest, prettiest actresses being the one who was performing at a level above the others and who was going to have more opportunities (maybe that was a point, or just my slant). Though, among this competitive group, she shows how not all of the girls are going to be that competitive or interested in moving to higher levels - reminded me of The Wolves.
I can see how some of the more graphic staging elements would put people off (and I was sitting in the front row, on the "dressing room" end, and saw much more of a couple of actresses than I would normally choose to see), but it is really an honest depiction by the excellent cast without being caricatures.
I did feel the playwright didn't go quite as far as can be typical with this age, of being "mean girls" or acting out toward each other, due to insecurities, etc. But she didn't really have to cover that.
Clare Barron is a playwright I will watch and I look forward to what she does next. |
