School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play
by Jocelyn Bioh

Name: School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play
Brand: Jocelyn Bioh
SKU: 9780822238638
Rating: 3.94 (316 reviews)

School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play Cover

School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play Book Cover — School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play Cover

Highlights

Female

75 mins 1980s Role(s) for Black Actor(s) All Women Role(s) for Teen(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

Paulina, the reigning queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school, has her sights set on the Miss Universe pageant.

But the arrival of Ericka, a new student with undeniable talent and beauty, captures the attention of the pageant recruiter – and Paulina’s hive-minded friends.

This buoyant and biting comedy explores the universal similarities (and glaring differences) facing teenage girls across the globe.

Press Reviews

"Fascinating… The nasty-teen comedy genre emerges wonderfully refreshed and even deepened by its immersion in a world it never considered. Beneath the infectious silliness of the play’s adopted genre, the ugly question of internalized racism lurks. With no underlining and without sacrificing laughs, Bioh is able to bring the audience to an unexpectedly ambivalent conclusion about the morality of cultural dominance."
— The New York Times

"School Girls is a ferociously entertaining morality tale that proves as heartwarming as it is hilarious. The clever writing features plenty of astute period-appropriate touches. School Girls arrives as a delightful surprise."
— The Hollywood Reporter

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
PAULINA SARPONG (Paul-LEE-nah SAAR-pong) – 18 years old; the most popular girl in school and knows it. She is beautiful, talented, vindictive, yet somehow loveable.	female	—	(Paul-LEE-nah SAAR-pong) – 18 years old; the most popular girl in school and knows it. She is beautiful, talented, vindictive, yet somehow loveable.
ERICKA BOAFO (BWAH-foh) – 18 years old; Light/fair skin. She is a transfer student and is new to school. She is enchanting, sweet, elusive. (NOTE: Should be played by a fair-skinned biracial [Black and White] woman.)	female	—	(BWAH-foh) – 18 years old; Light/fair skin. She is a transfer student and is new to school. She is enchanting, sweet, elusive. (NOTE: Should be played by a fair-skinned biracial [Black and White] woman.)
AMA (Ahh-mah) – 18 years old; the sensible, smart one of Paulina’s pack and has the honor of being her best friend. Her loyalty to Paulina is starting to fray, and she has to work up towards being the girl who is not afraid to say it like she means it.	female	—	(Ahh-mah) – 18 years old; the sensible, smart one of Paulina’s pack and has the honor of being her best friend. Her loyalty to Paulina is starting to fray, and she has to work up towards being the girl who is not afraid to say it like she means it.
NANA (Nah-nah) – 16 years old; the quiet, simple, and sensitive one of Paulina’s pack. She never means any harm and strives to do the right thing. She struggles with her love of food and snacks.	female	—	(Nah-nah) – 16 years old; the quiet, simple, and sensitive one of Paulina’s pack. She never means any harm and strives to do the right thing. She struggles with her love of food and snacks.
MERCY 16 years old; the witty sidekick to Gifty and will do and say anything to stay a member of Paulina’s pack.	—	16	16 years old; the witty sidekick to Gifty and will do and say anything to stay a member of Paulina’s pack.
GIFTY 16 years old; the “Frick” to Mercy’s “Frack”; loves being part of Paulina’s pack and will do anything to be considered cool.	—	16	16 years old; the “Frick” to Mercy’s “Frack”; loves being part of Paulina’s pack and will do anything to be considered cool.
HEADMISTRESS FRANCIS 40s; the Headmistress of Aburi Girls Boarding School; loves her students and will do whatever she can to both uplift and protect them.	female	40s	40s; the Headmistress of Aburi Girls Boarding School; loves her students and will do whatever she can to both uplift and protect them.
ELOISE AMPONSAH (Ell-oh-eez Amm-pohn-saah) – 40s; Extremely poised and well-mannered former Miss Ghana 1966. She is now a recruiter for the Miss Ghana pageant. She speaks with a slightly affected British accent and prides herself in always being a lady.All characters are of West African descent and are to be played by African and/or Black actors.	female	40s	(Ell-oh-eez Amm-pohn-saah) – 40s; Extremely poised and well-mannered former Miss Ghana 1966. She is now a recruiter for the Miss Ghana pageant. She speaks with a slightly affected British accent and prides herself in always being a lady.All characters are of West African descent and are to be played by African and/or Black actors.