<p>The world premiere of “Do Something Pretty” at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble feels like the Chicago storefront version of classic ’80s teen movies like “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink” and “Say Anything,” and that’s very much a compliment. Playwright Melissa Ross’ story may be standard, but her dimensional characters capture authentic teenage awkwardness and angst, and the central performances, especially in this intimate venue, make you ache for them.</p><p>Ross sets the play in the summer of 1992 outside of Boston, so in addition to the John Hughes influences, there’s a hint of the purposeful lethargy and grunge of “Slacker” and the Gen X disaffection of “Reality Bites.” Period details are lovingly expressed in the set and props design, down to the retro Doritos bag and the specific VHS tapes piled up by the downstage TV, including “Breakfast Club,” of course.</p><p>Nearly 14-year-old, soon-to-enter high school Phoebe (Katherine Mallen Kupferer) lives with her always-away mother and caring 18-year-old half-sister Evie (Jocelyn Zamudio), who is about to go off to college.</p><div class="RatingCard Enhancement" data-module data-rating="3.5" data-align-center> <div class="RatingCard-title"> ‘Do Something Pretty’ </div> <div class="RatingCard-content"> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-600000" name="module-600000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><b>When:</b> Through June 7<br><b>Where:</b> Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Ave.<br><b>Tickets:</b> $38<br><b>Info:</b> <a class="Link" href="https://www.rivendelltheatre.org/dosomethingpretty" target="_blank" >rivendelltheatre.org</a><br><b>Run time:</b> 1 hour and 50 minutes with one intermission</div> </div><p>For the extended first scene, Phoebe hangs with 19-year-old Jason (Reilly Oh) as he waits for Evie to come home.