So it's a little Dangerous Minds redux. That's OK. The idea of inspiring young inner-city minds through unconventional teaching methods may not be the most, well, unconventional of stories. But Nilaja Sun's No Child deserves total props for taking a familiar idea and making an entirely engaging one-woman show about it.

Sun's story is this: young aspiring actress takes a job to pay the bills teaching a group of Bronx high-school students how to put on a play. Students are reluctant at first, but eventually give into Sun's enthusiasm, and gain a little self respect in the process.

Before the eye rolls begin, keep this in mind -- Sun is a wonderfully talented performer who's just as convincing playing a pregnant teen with attitude as she is playing herself. Sun, who also wrote the piece, serves as sage janitor, imperious principal, stammering newbie teacher and thuggish ladies man all at once. She's actually at her best when playing the students, who get the best comebacks and whose more heartfelt revelations are frequently touching. But her stage presence never falters, no matter the role.

Once in awhile things get a little preachy - Sun's monologue as the teacher talking to the principal, fed up with her failure so far, sounds a bit too stump speech. And the work's occasional references to the No Child Left Behind act aren't developed enough to serve as coherent arguments against the legislation, and can feel like didactic afterthoughts. But these moments are the exceptions -- the show's more tragic moments easily can command a lump in your throat, even if you're giggling far more often than you're fighting back tears.

No Child runs at Woolly Mammoth through Feb. 17. Tickets are available online.