Review – DNA
The individual versus the group; whose priorities rise above – that of the majority or the minority? The darkly humorous theatre production of DNA takes us deep into the minds of a group of high school girls whose popularity status means they rule the school. Within this group we find all the typical stereotypes of teenage girls aptly arranged within a hierarchy amongst themselves.
The majority of the story is set deep within the forest where an extreme case of bullying, similar to that of a sorority ‘hazing’, has left one girl dead. With the incorporation of music, dance and acting we are taken through a journey of adolescent discovery and corruption as these girls devise a plan to not only escape blame but to lay it elsewhere. It is interesting to notice the various approaches each of these girls adopts in order to justify the crime they have committed – whether it be denial, power, fame or obedience, each has an individual thought process which is cleverly played out on stage.
The comedy aspect came across as insensitive at times but was necessary to convey the rawness and honesty of the production. The girls made great use of the stage for both acting and dancing, often coming up into the crowd to perform scenes while the soundtrack was perfectly matched to the theme of the play. The overall acting was powerful and accurate, especially for amateurs, and the idea that each girl’s individual personality was integral to the group as a whole was very strongly portrayed. Well done to Drama for the New Age (DNA) in association with McArts for putting on a compelling and provocative show.
