THE HANGOVER REPORT – Influences collide in Tori Sampson’s exuberant IF PRETTY HURTS UGLY MUST BE A MUTHAFUCKA

Nike Kadri and Maechi Aharanwa in Playwrights Horizons' production of "If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muthafucka" by Tori Sampson. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Nike Kadri and Maechi Aharanwa in Playwrights Horizons’ production of “If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muthafucka” by Tori Sampson. Photo by Joan Marcus.

I recently had a chance to catch up with Tori Sampson’s lively new play If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muthafucka at Playwrights Horizons. Set in the West African village of Affreakah-Amirrorkah, the play tells the parable-like story of curious, genuinely kind-hearted teenager Akim, an overprotected young woman whose fairytale fate is determined by her indisputable natural beauty. Underneath the production’s (quite literally) flashy veneer, the play is a relatively straightforward meditation on standards of beauty – particularly as it relates to young women – and its implications in the world we live in.

I had a great time at the play, which curiously bears a very strong resemblance to two recently mounted productions in New York – MCC Theater’s production of Jocelyn Bioh’s riotous School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls and Michael Arden’s riveting Tony-winning revival of Ahrens and Flaherty’s Once on this Island. Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if the young playwright was directly influenced by those productions. Ms. Tori’s exuberant, wide-eyed play, which also features quite a bit of live music, does a fantastic job of rekindling the thrilling, vivid feeling of adolescence – complete with budding friendships, romance, and sexuality.

Stylistically, the production – which has been kinetically directed by Leah C. Gardiner – is all over the place, which I guess is part of its boisterous charm. Across the board, the performances are spirited and broad, as you would expect. In the central role of Akim, Nike Kadri gives us an endearing performance that exudes just the right combination of innocence, sweetness, and feistiness.

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IF PRETTY HURTS UGLY MUST BE A MUTHAFUCKA
Off-Broadway, Play
Playwrights Horizons
1 hour, 50 minutes (without an intermission)
Through April 5

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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