The play, about two young women on a quest for self-realization, continues at artattack in Ashland through Sept. 29

What? A cheerleading play at artattack, the avant-garde Ashland troupe that prides itself on theater "outside the box"?

Highly unusual. Highly suspect, even. But smart. Funny. And full of moxie.

"Be Aggressive," which opened Friday, isn’t what you’d think. There are no shades of those vapid teen movies about struggling, underdog cheerleading squads that — ohmygod! — win the national championship! And against all odds!

This play, written by San Diego playwright Annie Weisman, is about two young women who take a road trip toward self-realization after suffering huge losses in their lives. Laura’s mother has just died in a hit-and-run; Leslie’s estranged father hasn’t contacted her in a year.

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The "cheer for cheer’s sake" theme is there, but it’s dripping with irony. For Laura and Leslie (Elisabeth Cara and Kirah Solomon), nailing a back tuck is a far worthier — and more attainable — goal than reconciling their anger and grief. They live in a world of perfect stucco houses in a place with perfect weather where they spend inordinate time and money on perfect hair, but nothing inside themselves seems even close to perfection.

An intriguing subplot follows a controversy surrounding Laura’s father, Phil (Michael Fitzgerald), an environmental impact consultant on an unpopular freeway project that will change the tenor of their town forever.

Director Justin Lockwood says plays written in the last 10 years have taken on cinematic qualities — meaning lots of set changes and extra characters — and "Be Aggressive" is no exception. It’s about a road trip, after all, that begins on the preppy California coast and climaxes near the tobacco fields of South Carolina.

But Lockwood, in true artattack minimalist style, pares it all down to one stark stage and one prop: a box that acts as couch, dinner table and car, among other things. Both the floor and box are asphalt-black with a double yellow line running through. Just right.

Lockwood had another idea: Turn the other cheerleaders — played entertainingly by Blu Do, Julia Strickland and Denise Guillot — into a modern version of the Greek chorus and let them act as the auxiliary characters of policemen, protesters and smoothie makers. The women even provide the sound effects, everything from tire squeals to Muzak in the Mobile station. Genius.

The chorus at turns acts as counterpoint and conscience and gives a rhythm to the play befitting its subject. For more fun, Lockwood throws in an opening cheer about turning off those damn cell phones and a halftime show that reminds us of those goofy football games we went to in high school.

Solomon oozes rebellion and irreverence as Leslie — "My mom’s totally flat. That’s one of the reasons I hate her!" — and she’s hilarious. Those with teenagers will recognize that ubiquitous adolescent sneer and the subsequent urge to scream for days.

Cara at first seems out of her element, like a 17-year-old grieving cheerleader would be, then blossoms as her character turns nearly manic with grief.

The funny and boisterous Heather Lundy plays Hannah, Laura’s awkward, precocious sister, and Linda Otto rounds out the talent as Judy, Leslie’s proud Southern mother with a shady past.

Lockwood’s inventions keep up the pace of a play that could drag if the director let it. Laura, for example, has not just one, but two tearful realizations of what her mother’s loss means to her. One would have sufficed just fine.

"Be Aggressive" continues through Sept. 29. Call 482-6505 or visit www.artattacktheater.com

Reach team leader Cathy Noah at 776-4473, or e-mail cnoah@mailtribune.com