Just Ask! at the Coterie Theatre is a new play about a group of friends trying to save a community garden. In my experience, it’s not typical for children’s theater to have such a powerful message but this show really changed my opinion on that. I recently saw Just Ask! and I really enjoyed it, despite being a bit older than the intended audience. The message of just asking instead of judging is very powerful and was delivered in a simple but unique way, which I believe is hard to achieve.
At first, I was a little skeptical about seeing a children’s musical, but each song had a different message, each as powerful as the next. I loved that as each character introduced themselves, they told a different story and showed the audience their unique struggles. It really brought the characters to life which was great to watch. I also appreciated that all the conditions of these characters were also the conditions of the actual actors, which brought a new level of caring to the show that was very cool to see.
Just Ask! (book by Fran Sillau; Music & Lyrics by Mark Kurtz) was directed by Fran Sillau and is based on a book by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, “Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You”, which I think brings a lot to the show. I believe she wrote it due to her personal struggles as a child who was judged for having diabetes. Such an influential person in our world wrote a book with a simple but strong message of just asking; instead of judging or whispering, just ask! I think that is a powerful message and it adds a lot to the play that it’s based on a book written by a political figure.
As for the plot, I think it flowed well and told the story super nicely. It discusses Autism, Dyslexia, Down Syndrome, Asthma, Diabetes and ADHD in a way that really proves the point of just asking instead of judging because of how open they are with their experiences. The discussions between the characters on stage show how understanding they are which is a great way to support the play’s message.
Overall, I thought it was a great show with an important message delivered in a cute, tasteful way. Unfortunately, Just Ask! is no longer playing but I am excited to see the next show at the Coterie, Cinderella: A Salsa Fairytale, which opens March 19!
Reviewed by TeenTix KC member Matilda Paisner
TeenTix KC is a KC Studio initiative building a brighter future for our region by empowering young people to take an active role in shaping their arts community as audience members, critics, influencers, advocates, patrons and leaders. Any 13-19 year-old can become a TeenTix KC member by downloading a free pass which enables them to buy $5 tickets to participating arts venues across metro KC. Teens are encouraged to become critics and influencers by writing reviews and creating reels about the arts they experience using their TeenTix KC passes.
