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When I heard the montage of 80s music blaring and saw the beautiful African-American art donning the Arkansas Repertory Theatre lobby, I knew SCHOOL GIRLS; OR THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY by Jocelyn Bioh, which is playing through March 20, was going to be awesome (80s slang intended)! Set in Ghana at the Aburi Girls' boarding school in 1986, the play touches on social nerves like familial status, school hierarchy, and color of the skin. Directed by Sha Cage, this group of storytellers told a tale that still rings true today.

As you'd expect from the title, "School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play" gets pretty mean in spots.

As you'd expect from the title, "School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play" gets pretty mean in spots.

Ashembaga "Ashe" Jaafaru is reprising the lead role in Jocelyn Bioh's "School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play" as it takes the stage Wednesday at Arkansas Repertory Theatre.

Ashembaga "Ashe" Jaafaru is reprising the lead role in Jocelyn Bioh's "School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play" as it takes the stage Wednesday at Arkansas Repertory Theatre.