SCHOOL GIRLS; or, the AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY - Strictly Amateur Grift at the Lucille Lortel

Playwright Jocelyn Bioh is an Amer/Ghanian playwright.  Her parents immigrated to the US in 1968.  SCHOOL GIRLS is comedy/drama that attacks an earnest social issue of racial hierarchy within  the black community and on a socially global level. Bioh sets her play in 1986 at an elite private schools for girls in Ghana.  The comedy directed at high school girl clicks ruled by the mean beauty queen teen, Paulina (Maameyaa Boafo) pushes the boundaries of credibility.  The dialogue doesn't register credit.  The 4 other school girls abjectly acquiesce to Paulina demands, insults & boasts seeking to ingratiate themselves.  Paulina reign as queen bee crumbles when a new student, Ericka arrives from America.  Ericka's good lucks & generosity lead to a mutiny of alliances. The classmates revolt against Paulina's imperious & pernicious behaviors knocking her down a few rungs.  But the battles have just begun between the charismatic & beautiful Ericka and Paulina.  A showdown of wills turns ugly as they vie for the title of Miss Ghana.   Eloise (Zainab Jah) a school alum & Miss Ghana 1966 (which she reiterate often) struts into the cafeteria to speak with former classmate Francis now the school's Headmistress (a warm & radiant Myra Lucretia Taylor).  Eloise mirrors Paulina ruthlessness.  Eloise is assigned to select a pageant contest from the school.  She's determined to select the most attractive girl to ensure the title of Miss Ghana 1986.  The win would provide Eloise a large sum which is promised to Francis's school as long as she overlooks the rules.  Ericka & Paulina's contemptuous disregard for each other erupts during the contest.  Headmistress clears the room but for the two girls to resolve their disruptive matter.  They exchange their stories & sorrows but never reach a truce.  Eloise returns with her predetermined selection of Ericka with her "high yellow" skin tone & soft brown hair.  Her fairer complexion imbues a perceived higher social hierarchy than a "darky".  Lighter skin tones among black or dark skinned have been perceived as more attractive & more privileged.  Even Paulina resorts to bleach cream to lighter her dark skin regardless of its physical harm.  The charm of the mean girls scenario is long in the tooth and bloom has fallen off the cast of girls who looked 10 years too old to be teens (a fair criticism).  Both veteran actresses Taylor & Jah gave sterling performances.  The bias & social class system related to skin tone has a long history being immorally imbedded.  Bioh's play meant as a sobering lesson on detestable racial bias misses its mark and receives a C- grade.   Note: Vanessa Williams considered of light skin tone was the 1st black Miss America in 1984.  This past may, Miss Black Univ. of TX was slammed "as not black enough."  I sense the germinations of a talented playwright.  I sense a leaning away from racial bias.  And I have a strong wish for both.