THE MALL THE MALL THE MALL
Written by Philip Kenner, Directed by James Wyrwicz, Produced by Twin Fruit Productions, Christian & Eliza Lange, Anna Bowman, Philip Kenner, Mahayla Laurence, & Skye Pagon
The Tank/Twin Fruit Productions with Christian & Eliza Lange
February 26, 2026 - March 22, 2026
Photo credit by Hanjie Chow
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the mall? It doesn’t matter, playwright Philip Kenner is going to show you anyway!
This zany, high-energy, nostalgic piece follows BFF’s Naomi (Ellena Eshraghi), Viv (Mahayla Laurence), and Charlie (Trent M. Williams) as they attempt to discover the whereabouts of missing Buffy the Vampire Slayer merch, uncover a mall-wide conspiracy, and possibly save their friendships – and lives - in the process.
Hats off to sound designer, Kurt Cruz, and costume designer, Patricia Marjorie, for setting up this incredible romp so that we know exactly where we are and exactly who we’re following.
Nerdy teens Naomi, Viv, and Charlie trek through the mall, transporting us back in time, reminding us of the sights and smells of lotions, lip gloss, and Cinnabon we know so well.
Searching for her identity from sales rack to sales rack, Eshraghi’s manic portrayal of Naomi harkens back to when we, too, were defined by what we wore and what we displayed on the outside. Her character arc is both earned and satisfying. Laurence’s depiction of Viv is kind, yet straightforward, allowing us to fall in love with her quirkiness, while simultaneously rooting for her liberation. Williams’ soft-spoken Chalie is the heart of it all. His authentic ability to play the shy, quiet third member of the trio is just as strong as his over-the-top, hyper-masculine Hollister counterpart.
The most fun came from watching Mia Wurgaft and Mikey Fiocco, who played Sylvia and Dennis, respectively, as well as an array of other diabolical characters. Fiocco’s characters were brought to life by his kooky facial expressions and outrageous body movements. The highlight came when he donned a giant teddy bear outfit and philosophized to a teenage Naomi with his fellow castmates.
While the entire cast did an amazing job with their parts, Wurgaft was an absolute standout. She gave a master class in how to let go and just be ridiculous onstage. Too often, being in a play that is hammed up and stylized, actors can be seen watching themselves or not fully committing to the absurdity. This was not the case with Wurgaft. We were safe in her capable hands, and we not only trusted what she was going to do next, we looked forward to it.
James Wyrwicz’s direction allowed the actors to make great use of the entire stage, allowing the audience to be fully immersed in their world. The actor-director collaboration was on point and evident in the way the actors spoke and moved.
If you’re looking for a fun night of theater, you can find it at THE MALL THE MALL THE MALL!
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Nick Radu-Blackburn
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on March 17th, 2026. All rights reserved.
