The world premiere production entertains, but relies too heavily on well-worn musical tropes
There’s lots to love about “Bhangin’ It: A Bangin’ New Musical,” which opened in its world premiere Sunday night at La Jolla Playhouse.
But the musical’s multitalented star, San Diego native Ari Afsar, is so sincere and committed in the lead role of mixed-race Mary that she grounds and enriches the show with heart, authenticity and emotional depth. So, Mary assembles her own untrained and ethnically diverse Bhangra team, the Wood Ducks, and she uses a loophole in the competition rules to get her team into nationals, as well. Much of the show’s humor is in this wildly mixed bag of awkward dancers, who include a widowed 60-year-old professor, a gay Black basketball player, Mary’s hard-partying activist roommate and a petite Filipina with a passion for glitter and glue pens.An Indian word glossary in the printed program wouldn’t hurt .
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