It’s a testament to the subtle brilliance of Kimberly Belflower’s writing and Danya Tamor’s direction that you can hardly feel the 105-minute, no-intermission runtime of John Proctor Is the Villain.

The play, now on Broadway, follows a group of junior girls at Helen County High, a small school in northeast Georgia, who start a feminist club at the height of the #MeToo movement. At first, their plans are almost thwarted by anonymously concerned community members who worry the group will alienate boys. The girls insist that their male peers can, and in fact should, become members. “If we were able to foster a meaningful dialogue with them, we could find common ground,” intones Beth (an impressive Fina Strazza), the high-strung but well-meaning one of the crew. “That’s like, the whole purpose of this club, that’s why it’s so important.”

Lucky for these teens, their beloved English teacher,...