More Theater Monday - O.K.!

We received complimentary tickets to O.K.! for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own

What: O.K.!

Where: Intar Theatre

             500 W. 52nd St., 4th Fl

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 17 and Up

When: Through June 8, 2025

O.K.! is a dark show that contemplates the sorry state of affairs of the world we are living in, where, in many states, women no longer even have control over their own bodies. While touring with a knockoff version of the musical Oklahoma,  and stuck in the state of Oklahoma, just as abortion has been banned, the show's main character, Melinda, finds herself dealing with an unwanted pregnancy  Accordingly, topics discussed within the show include not only abortion, but other things like sex and rape that are not only inappropriate for children but may be triggering for some adults as well.

In the role of Melinda, Danaya Esperanza is quite affecting. This is clearly a woman who really wants to do what's best for herself and her unborn child without being forced into a decision by forces beyond her control.  Her performance is ably supported by her castmates and coworkers, both in life and within the show, Yadira Correra, Claudia Ramos Jordan, and Christina Pitter.  Correra's Jolie is a woman who has lived through a lot herself and hides her own secrets behind a tough exterior. Ramos Jordan's Elena is a ballsy and confident young woman who has not yet been forced to face the tough realities of womanhood that the others have. Pitter, as the tough but surprisingly understanding stage manager, Alex, is the fourth and final cast member. Pitter also plays several other small roles in the show.

On the lighter side, the show offers a fascinating glimpse at the preshow process of putting on a show. We get to observe the characters as they arrive at the theater and throughout their time getting ready for the performance, including the surprisingly long process of getting into costumes, doing their stage makeup, and more. Focusing on that aspect provides a brief respite from the heaviness of the play, although not for long, as the show's central dilemma is too important to shy away from. It forces us to contemplate the kind of world we want to live in and how we can get there from where we are now. 

And that's our view. For more about O.K.! or to purchase tickets, visit www.intartheatre.org/now-playing

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits:

All O.K.! production photos by Valerie Terranova

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.