The most inventive and entertaining off-Broadway show I saw on my recent visit to New York was "Dance Nation" at Playwright's Horizons. Exploring the emotions and travails of 13 year-olds in a female competitive dance troupe, this well cast and finely directed (by Lee Sunday Evans) work unfolds like a mash-up of "The Wolves," "Small Mouth Sounds" and an Annie Baker play. I do not mean to suggest that it is not seem original, because it feels fresh and explores topics that are rarely if ever explored on stage. "Dance Nation" genuinely addresses teen issues in ways that the new musical "Mean Girls" does not even come close.
I also was glad to catch "This Flat Earth" at Playwright Horizons, which addresses gun violence issues in an interesting and thoughtful way. However, several plot points do not come across credibly and create unnecessary distractions.
I was not so pleased with the new Broadway musical "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical." This title aptly conveys the lack of originality in this bio-musical. As a general rule, I do not care for jukebox musicals, especially when they do little more than go through selected life events of the music's creator(s). This wan production is no exception to that rule. Nevertheless, the three actresses sharing the role of Donna Summer are great vocalists, especially the supremely talented La Chanze, and several of the musical numbers are entertaining.
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