Mélia Mills: "The Allure of Thug Life" ★★★★

Almost impossible

This Hip-Hopsical 

Is sweet as a Popsicle 

And has no obstacle. 

This is why some people rap and some people write reviews.

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Let's be up-front about this: "Mélia Mills' "The Allure of Thug Life" is the most refreshing new show we've seen in a long while. She's a classy performer coming into theater through a brand new door. And a filled-up audience tells you it's working.

Ms. Mills can write a lot and sing some too. She plays characters like would-be-boyfriend Rashid Rahad Rahim and her Spanish teacher Ms. Mosca and, best of all, her mortal enemy BeBé. BeBé is threatening even to the audience, but Mélia manages to show a little humanity even for her. Unfortunately, Bebé comes very close to bringing down the curtain. We don't want to give away the ending, so let's just say getting shot can have advantages over remaining unpopular.

We would like to warn any fathers in the audience who have teenage daughters: you might think about walking down the street to see The Lion King.

We love this show. The Marsh Berkeley will certainly extend Mélia and we hope they improve their miking system too. She's got a lot to say and you don't want to miss a word.

Thanks, 'Pac.

RATINGS ★★★★

The San Francisco Theater Blog, which normally is as Hip-Hop as a stick of Juicy Fruit, is overjoyed to award FOUR STARS ★★★★ to Mélia Mills's "The Allure of Thug Life." This one-woman show is going to be around a long time.

It's a little bit whacked

But the theater was packed.

The girl can act. 

I wanna go back.

Huh? Huh? Not bad? 

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"Mélia Mills: The Allure of Thug Life"

The Marsh, Berkeley

2120 Allston Way, Berkeley

Saturdays through Nov. 11

$25-$35