3.5 out of 5 stars

True to its name, Jocelyn Bioh’s “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” delves into the power dynamics among students at a Ghanaian boarding school. And, yes, it echoes the Tina Fey-penned “Mean Girls” movie-turned-musical, but with enough of a distinct cultural perspective that it also stands apart from it. Still, Fey’s effort went a little deeper in its sociological digging even as it remained laugh-out-loud funny. Bioh gets close to such pointed observations, but her take ultimately feels more contrived. The play benefits from a rock-solid production, with a cast that delivers one standout performance after another.

Presdented by the Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, through Nov. 15, 2026; manhattantheatreclub.com. (Photo on home page by Matthew Murphy)