San Francisco Playhouse · Theatre
FLEX
“A lively, action-packed production that highlights the musicality and dramatic material of the sport.”
The sound
The sonic architecture turns on one opposition — dirt court versus gymnasium, authentic versus institutional — with a rotating turntable physically carrying the team between worlds.
The design honors Black women’s basketball culture and the textures of 1990s Arkansas. Every location has a distinct acoustic identity: the dirt court (raw, insect-rich — spring peepers, cicadas, a distant train horn as the “Lady Train” motif of longing), the gym (institutional reverb, crowd presence), the sedan (confined, mechanical), the baptism (sacred, water-centered). Basketball sounds use 20+ variations each of dirt-court versus gymnasium bounces, plus dribbling, rim, referee whistles, scoreboard buzzer, and crowd chants (“Starra!”, “Lady! Train!”). Music follows the script’s 90s hip-hop girl groups — SWV’s “Weak” on the car radio, Aaliyah, Xscape, and Luniz on the CD player, TLC’s “What About Your Friends” for opening practice — with Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “This Train” as the opening idea. Both endings are served with equal dignity: victory’s crowd eruption versus defeat’s extended silence, “This Train Is Bound for Glory” sung in grief, transformed into resilience.
Press
“Flex is a lively, action-packed production that highlights the musicality and dramatic material of the sport.”
The Daily Californian · Emma Gallagher
“Local legend Margo Hall directs the action which includes of course some bball action, but shines best in the interactions between the girls.”
BroadwayWorld · Steve Murray