‘Ain’t Done Bad’ is an Orville Peck-infused odyssey

Featured image by Ashleigh Ann Gardner.

Throughout his ever-expanding music career, Orville Peck has proved that country and queerness are a powerful combination. Now, his music is filling an off-Broadway theater as the soundtrack to Ain’t Done Bad, a narrative dance piece playing at the Pershing Square Signature Center.

Ain’t Done Bad is the brainchild of Jakob Karr, who conceived, choreographed, and directed the piece in addition to starring as its protagonist, the son. Karr is best known as a runner-up on the dance competition series So You Think You Can Dance?, and with Ain’t Done Bad, his first full-length original show, his talents are on full display.

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The show follows the son’s coming-of-age, as he breaks free from a small-town upbringing and discovers himself in the world at large. If you’re concerned that a 90-minute narrative with no dialogue will lose you, don’t be. Despite the characters communicating through dance alone, their story comes through crystal clear, with beats that will no doubt hit home for any queer audience members.

The son’s experiences come through as universal in their specificity, charting an almost archetypal queer hero’s journey: from escaping a restrictive environment at home, to being overwhelmed and exhilarated by the freedom of queer community, to finding first love and coming to terms with his roots.

Take a standout scene from early on, where the son secretly watches his mother’s makeup routine, before she invites him to take a seat at her vanity himself. The two share a beautiful duet, set to Peck’s “Queen of the Rodeo” — only to be interrupted by the family’s controlling father, who the mother faces down time and time again in her son’s defense. The son’s family dynamic and story could be called clichéd, but they’re common in queer media for a reason: they’re true to the lived reality of queer folks across America, and seeing them brought to life on stage (especially through a not-so-common medium like narrative dance) is as powerful as ever.

Aint’ Done Bad features 17 standout songs from Peck’s discography. The dances don’t always take Peck’s lyrics literally, but they always capture his music’s earnest emotions and sweeping vocals. All his hits find their way into the setlist, including the expansive “Dead of Night” and the infectious Shania Twain collaboration “Legends Never Die.” For Peck’s diehard fans, some deep cuts are featured too — and if you’re not familiar with Peck’s work at all, the dances are plenty dazzling on their own merit.

All of Ain’t Done Bad’s ensemble members — who play the son’s family members, friends, and lovers — are technically stunning dancers. Among them, Megumi Iwama shines as the mother, bringing an instantly endearing sense of vulnerability and warmth to her performance. Joshua Escover as the lover only comes into focus in the second act, but his charisma and chemistry with Karr more than make up for his lack of stage time: Their dances together are sometimes wholesome, sometimes erotic, and always electrifying. And at the center of it all, Karr himself carries the show with both his remarkable dance ability and a clear, profound connection to the material.

The show’s other great superstar is on stage the whole time: the scenic design. The set (designed by Philip Lupo, Joey Coombs, and Blake Schulte) imagines a world constructed of sparse wooden planks crumbling upward into oblivion, with three movable mirrors that Karr’s choreography utilizes to great effect. (No spoilers, but there’s also a disco ball reveal, if you weren’t sold already.)

Ain’t Done Bad’s story is simplistic, but sweet — maybe too sweet. The show ensures that every storyline gets wrapped up with a bow for a picture-perfect happy ending, without showing much of how the characters got there. Is it earned? Not necessarily. Is it satisfying? Sure, if you don’t think about it too hard. Optimism is always welcome, particularly in queer narratives, and Ain’t Done Bad’s brings a heartwarming end to a showcase of truly incredible dance.

Ain’t Done Bad runs through August 31 at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Get tickets at aintdonebad.com.

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