What I liked
Very smartly, the musical concentrates on the love, fears, joys and tensions that arise within this tight-knit band of hopeful young women trying to figure out how to become adults in a tumultuous world. Interestingly, the men who are present seem to be calling the shots, but they are the ones that make the worst decisions – endangering the very “family” they claim to want to protect.
What I didn't like
At times, it was difficult to hear the performers over the live band on stage during some of the songs. The cast did use mics during some songs and it was great. I saw a preview performance so hopefully this has improved with later shows.
My overall impression
Strong songs and a strong cast bring a lot of heart to this piece. The show humanizes what could have been a cliche “cult” story. Smartly, the focus is on the relationships, friendships, romances and politics of enthusiastic hopeful young people who choose to exist separate from normal society. At times touching and at times creepy, the songs are great. The subject matter does not seem to easily lend itself to being a musical, but this show pulls it off.
