Krystina Alabado, Kyra Kennedy and Gianna Yanelli (Photo courtesy La Mirada Theatre)
Reviewed by Madison Mellon
La Mirada Theatre
Thru Feb. 11
RECOMMENDED
Mystic Pizza is a bubbly new musical currently serving up 1980s nostalgia at La Mirada Theatre. Based on the 1988 rom-com of the same name, it’s written by Sandy Rustin, with a score made up of hit songs from the 80s and 90s, arranged and orchestrated by Carmel Dean. Featuring a terrific cast, Mystic Pizza is a polished and consistently engaging production.
The story follows three small town girls working at a pizza shop as they navigate various challenges from love to work to family. Bookish Kat must navigate her promising future at Yale and budding relationship with an older man, while her flirtatious sister Daisy longs for a way out of their small town. Their friend, Jojo, is torn between marrying her fiancé and pursuing her own ambitions of taking over the titular pizza shop. It is a sweet and lighthearted story and while it does fall into some of the narrative pitfalls that often mark jukebox musicals, it is undeniably charming.
The cast is high caliber, particularly the three leads. As Daisy, Krystina Alabado captures the confident front the character assumes while also highlighting the vulnerability she tries to conceal. Gianna Yanelli as Jojo brings a zany energy to the trio without crossing the line into caricature. Kyra Kennedy as Kat has a standout voice and provides a grounded presence that balances the bolder personalities of the other two women. The three have believable chemistry: they all worked together on the show’s previous production at Ogunquit Playhouse and play exceptionally well off each other.
The musical is a largely successful adaptation of the film, updating certain elements without sacrificing the film’s unique spirit. For example, Jojo’s fiancé, Bill, takes a more active role in attempting to win Jojo back after she leaves him at the altar — a plot point bolstered by an eminently likable performance from Jordan Friend. With regard to the relationship between Kat and her love interest, Tim: The musical smartly dispenses with Kat being a babysitter for Tim’s daughter, thus placing these characters on a more equal footing.
The show is less successful folding the 80s and 90s hit songs into the story. At times, the use of pre-existing music undercuts its more serious moments. A scene in which Daisy’s love interest, Charlie, confronts his family with a very sincere rendition of “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” elicited unintentional laughter from the audience. In moments like this, the musical neither leans fully into camp nor does it allow the emotional beats to land long enough to resonate.
Still, Mystic Pizza faithfully captures what made its source material appealing, from its simple, heartfelt story to its now-retro aesthetic. The show is an energetic 1980s pastiche and, under the skillful direction of Casey Hushion mostly overcomes its weaknesses to shine as a celebration of sisterhood and friendship.
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, 8 pm, Sat, 2 & 8 pm, Sun, 1:30 & 6:30 pm; thru Feb. 11. www.lamiradatheatre.com/ Running time two hours and 20 minutes with an intermission.
