Ivoryton playhouse continues 2024 season with light-hearted rom-com mystic pizza
By Kiersten Bjork (July 3, 2024)
Mystic Pizza, currently playing at Ivoryton Playhouse, is a light-hearted rom-com that, despite the recognizable title and list of catchy, iconic songs, left me wishing for something more from it. A relatively new show, Mystic Pizza premiered at the Ogunquit Playhouse in September of 2021. The title is set to have a North American Tour launching in January of 2025, despite only having a few regional engagements so far. My overall feeling with this show is that the script could use some tightening up. The score is promising, and yet I found myself becoming a bit bored with the repetition of the same overused motif and wishing that the writers had taken the songs to a new level instead of relying on a recognizable tune by itself.
With a book by Sandy Rustin and musical arrangements and orchestrations by Carmel Dean, Mystic Pizza is based on the MGM motion picture of the same name with story and characters by Amy Holden Jones. We follow Jojo, Kat, and Daisy, three working girls who are waitresses at the titular “Mystic Pizza” restaurant, as they navigate their lives. From romance to heartbreak, successes and failures, we join these three young women as they discover who they are within this small town, and who they want to be. With a pop score featuring hit songs from the 80s and 90s such as “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Into the Mystic,” and “Never Gonna Give You Up,” you’ll be singing along to practically every tune. Mystic Pizza features direction and choreography by Brian J. Feehan and music direction by David Madore.
Overall, Mystic Pizza is enjoyable enough for a summer evening. The cast are certainly giving it their all, and it’s a group of talented performers who are fun to watch. It’s a sweet story, it has some humor to it, and there are notable songs that will stick in your head long after you leave the theatre (as is the nature of a jukebox musical). And yet, it didn’t really hold my attention. It’s a rom-com, nothing too serious, and so the plot itself is rather surface level. I love it when a jukebox musical takes a pop song and makes something new and exciting out of it – powerful key changes, glorious harmonies, etc. – and yet Mystic Pizza really just gives us the recognizable pop tune with little alteration. This poses an issue when the bulk of the company doesn't possess that pop sound – they’re much more “Broadway” style singers. The cast sounds solid and can hit the notes, but stylistically, if you’re going to use those iconic songs, then you either need to be able to perform them in a way that really lives up to the original tune, or do something different with them that creates a compelling new version. Mystic Pizza doesn’t quite reach that new and exciting take on the music, which drags down the overall show. This ties in with the overall need for tightening in the writing to result in an average script – nothing to write home about.
Mystic Pizza, currently playing at Ivoryton Playhouse, is a light-hearted rom-com that, despite the recognizable title and list of catchy, iconic songs, left me wishing for something more from it. A relatively new show, Mystic Pizza premiered at the Ogunquit Playhouse in September of 2021. The title is set to have a North American Tour launching in January of 2025, despite only having a few regional engagements so far. My overall feeling with this show is that the script could use some tightening up. The score is promising, and yet I found myself becoming a bit bored with the repetition of the same overused motif and wishing that the writers had taken the songs to a new level instead of relying on a recognizable tune by itself.
With a book by Sandy Rustin and musical arrangements and orchestrations by Carmel Dean, Mystic Pizza is based on the MGM motion picture of the same name with story and characters by Amy Holden Jones. We follow Jojo, Kat, and Daisy, three working girls who are waitresses at the titular “Mystic Pizza” restaurant, as they navigate their lives. From romance to heartbreak, successes and failures, we join these three young women as they discover who they are within this small town, and who they want to be. With a pop score featuring hit songs from the 80s and 90s such as “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Into the Mystic,” and “Never Gonna Give You Up,” you’ll be singing along to practically every tune. Mystic Pizza features direction and choreography by Brian J. Feehan and music direction by David Madore.
Overall, Mystic Pizza is enjoyable enough for a summer evening. The cast are certainly giving it their all, and it’s a group of talented performers who are fun to watch. It’s a sweet story, it has some humor to it, and there are notable songs that will stick in your head long after you leave the theatre (as is the nature of a jukebox musical). And yet, it didn’t really hold my attention. It’s a rom-com, nothing too serious, and so the plot itself is rather surface level. I love it when a jukebox musical takes a pop song and makes something new and exciting out of it – powerful key changes, glorious harmonies, etc. – and yet Mystic Pizza really just gives us the recognizable pop tune with little alteration. This poses an issue when the bulk of the company doesn't possess that pop sound – they’re much more “Broadway” style singers. The cast sounds solid and can hit the notes, but stylistically, if you’re going to use those iconic songs, then you either need to be able to perform them in a way that really lives up to the original tune, or do something different with them that creates a compelling new version. Mystic Pizza doesn’t quite reach that new and exciting take on the music, which drags down the overall show. This ties in with the overall need for tightening in the writing to result in an average script – nothing to write home about.
Ariella Kvashny, Carina Hernandez, and Alyssa Giannetti in Mystic Pizza at Ivoryton Playhouse (Ben Hope)
Despite the struggles in the script, Ivoryton has assembled a strong group of actors. Though some could have possessed more of a pop sound for the score, I did enjoy their performances.
Alyssa Giannetti plays Josephina “Jojo” Barboza, a young woman who kicks off the show by fainting at the altar of her own wedding. One of the three waitresses at Mystic Pizza, Jojo is a fun character whose misadventures in love are the talk of the restaurant as the start of the story. Giannetti is sweet and spunky in the role, an almost giddy energy present in her moments on stage. Her relationship with Bill is charming to watch as it evolves over the course of the show, and Giannetti has a great dynamic with her Bill, Will Clark.
Ariella Kvashny is a standout as Daisy Arujo. She’s strong, she’s sassy, and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind, particularly when it comes to her budding romance with Charles. Kvashny plays this role exceptionally well, and her voice stands out as one that really works for the pop tunes. Her part in “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” is fantastic, and “True Colors” is beautiful. I also particularly enjoyed her relationship with Daisy’s younger sister Kat, played by Carina Hernandez. Hernandez practically bounces with youthful glee when she’s onstage. Kat is the youngest of the trio, and Hernandez really embodies that youngest sibling dynamic. She’s got that nervous excitement down and wields it well in the role. Her scene with Kvashny following a particularly emotional evening is really touching.
The owner of Mystic Pizza, Leona Silvia, is played by Leenya Rideout. Leona’s restaurant has been a staple in Mystic for years, and Rideout brings just enough strictness to Leona to indicate that she won’t tolerate any nonsense in her establishment while still showing just how much it and her girls mean to her. Leona has some good one-liners that Rideout delivers well.
Will Clark plays Jojo’s fiancé, Bill Montijo, a local fisherman. Clark’s portrayal feels natural in the world of the show; he’s a bit rough around the edges, but is full of heart. Clark plays him with an easygoing air, but not to a point where Bill feels like he could be walked all over. There’s a gruffness to Clark’s voice that fits the character nicely.
Tim Travers, architect and new friend of Kat’s, is played by Michael Ferraro. Ferraro is quite charming as Tim. There’s a warmth to him that makes us want to like Tim, even if the dynamic between Tim and Kat feels a bit off, as Jojo and Daisy frequently point out. He’s got a solid voice, taking on “Into the Mystic” with a soft, smooth sound.
Isaac Kueber plays Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr., the preppy boy who strolls into the local bar and into Daisy’s life unexpectedly. Kueber is funny and endearing as Charles. He’s got a great voice but perhaps leans a little too heavily into a “performative” pop style, resorting to an eyes-closed, leaning forward pose anytime he reaches a part of a number with a lot of feeling. I enjoyed the way that Kueber and Kvashny played off of each other – Daisy’s wildfire nature versus Charles’ yacht club upbringing creates a very interesting relationship, and the two actors dive into it expertly.
Rounding out the company are Cory Candelet (Man 2), Olivia Fenton (Woman 1), Andrew Johnson (Man 5), Taylor Krebuszewski (Woman 2), Liv Kurtz (Woman 3), Johanna Regan Milani (Woman 4), Will Pazdziora (Man 4), Alex Polzun (Man 3), and Josh Powell (Man 1). Lily Bucko, Rae Janeil, and Patrick O’Konis serve as understudies for the production.
Alyssa Giannetti plays Josephina “Jojo” Barboza, a young woman who kicks off the show by fainting at the altar of her own wedding. One of the three waitresses at Mystic Pizza, Jojo is a fun character whose misadventures in love are the talk of the restaurant as the start of the story. Giannetti is sweet and spunky in the role, an almost giddy energy present in her moments on stage. Her relationship with Bill is charming to watch as it evolves over the course of the show, and Giannetti has a great dynamic with her Bill, Will Clark.
Ariella Kvashny is a standout as Daisy Arujo. She’s strong, she’s sassy, and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind, particularly when it comes to her budding romance with Charles. Kvashny plays this role exceptionally well, and her voice stands out as one that really works for the pop tunes. Her part in “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” is fantastic, and “True Colors” is beautiful. I also particularly enjoyed her relationship with Daisy’s younger sister Kat, played by Carina Hernandez. Hernandez practically bounces with youthful glee when she’s onstage. Kat is the youngest of the trio, and Hernandez really embodies that youngest sibling dynamic. She’s got that nervous excitement down and wields it well in the role. Her scene with Kvashny following a particularly emotional evening is really touching.
The owner of Mystic Pizza, Leona Silvia, is played by Leenya Rideout. Leona’s restaurant has been a staple in Mystic for years, and Rideout brings just enough strictness to Leona to indicate that she won’t tolerate any nonsense in her establishment while still showing just how much it and her girls mean to her. Leona has some good one-liners that Rideout delivers well.
Will Clark plays Jojo’s fiancé, Bill Montijo, a local fisherman. Clark’s portrayal feels natural in the world of the show; he’s a bit rough around the edges, but is full of heart. Clark plays him with an easygoing air, but not to a point where Bill feels like he could be walked all over. There’s a gruffness to Clark’s voice that fits the character nicely.
Tim Travers, architect and new friend of Kat’s, is played by Michael Ferraro. Ferraro is quite charming as Tim. There’s a warmth to him that makes us want to like Tim, even if the dynamic between Tim and Kat feels a bit off, as Jojo and Daisy frequently point out. He’s got a solid voice, taking on “Into the Mystic” with a soft, smooth sound.
Isaac Kueber plays Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr., the preppy boy who strolls into the local bar and into Daisy’s life unexpectedly. Kueber is funny and endearing as Charles. He’s got a great voice but perhaps leans a little too heavily into a “performative” pop style, resorting to an eyes-closed, leaning forward pose anytime he reaches a part of a number with a lot of feeling. I enjoyed the way that Kueber and Kvashny played off of each other – Daisy’s wildfire nature versus Charles’ yacht club upbringing creates a very interesting relationship, and the two actors dive into it expertly.
Rounding out the company are Cory Candelet (Man 2), Olivia Fenton (Woman 1), Andrew Johnson (Man 5), Taylor Krebuszewski (Woman 2), Liv Kurtz (Woman 3), Johanna Regan Milani (Woman 4), Will Pazdziora (Man 4), Alex Polzun (Man 3), and Josh Powell (Man 1). Lily Bucko, Rae Janeil, and Patrick O’Konis serve as understudies for the production.
Alyssa Giannetti, Ariella Kvashny, and Carina Hernandez in Mystic Pizza at Ivoryton Playhouse (Ben Hope)
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Carina Hernandez, Alyssa Giannetti, and Ariella Kvashny in Mystic Pizza at Ivoryton Playhouse (Ben Hope)
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Scenic design by Cully Long evokes the seaside town of Mystic quite well. Buoys, lobster pots, docks, and more are ever-present, creating a perfect playing space for a story like this. I liked the versatility of the moving pieces used throughout – pieces of the dock transform into other locations, becoming tables or countertops. It’s a clever set that maximizes the way that pieces can be used while also maximizing use of space on a relatively small stage. I do wish that the balcony was a bit lower – I wasn’t too close to the front of the house, but you really do need to crane your neck to see everything happening up there, and the height of the rail results in us losing some of the actors’ body language.
Lighting designer Marcus Abbott makes good use of color to build upon the scenic design, with projections also accenting certain scenes as well. Costumes by designer Liz Saylor are all well-matched to each character. From rubber waders to the iconic Mystic Pizza t-shirts, they fit nicely within the world of the show.
Sound design by Shyloh-Symone Bailey struggles. There were times when actors sounded far away at the start of a scene and then the sound would balance out mid-conversation, there was fuzziness to several of the actors’ mics, and the overall balance wasn’t great throughout. Ivoryton does have a live pit, but the sound from the musicians sounds rather canned because it’s predominantly being piped into the space because there wasn’t room for the pit onstage or in an exposed pit area.
Lighting designer Marcus Abbott makes good use of color to build upon the scenic design, with projections also accenting certain scenes as well. Costumes by designer Liz Saylor are all well-matched to each character. From rubber waders to the iconic Mystic Pizza t-shirts, they fit nicely within the world of the show.
Sound design by Shyloh-Symone Bailey struggles. There were times when actors sounded far away at the start of a scene and then the sound would balance out mid-conversation, there was fuzziness to several of the actors’ mics, and the overall balance wasn’t great throughout. Ivoryton does have a live pit, but the sound from the musicians sounds rather canned because it’s predominantly being piped into the space because there wasn’t room for the pit onstage or in an exposed pit area.
Carina Hernandez, Alyssa Giannetti, Leenya Rideout, and Ariella Kvashny in Mystic Pizza at Ivoryton Playhouse (Ben Hope)
While I won’t say that Mystic Pizza was one of my favorite shows, it certainly had some enjoyable qualities to it. It’s not going to make you think too deeply, and you may leave wishing that the script had another revision to make the show move a bit more, but if you’re looking for a light rom-com with songs you’ll recognize and a solid cast of performers, this just may be the show for you! Experience the production for yourself – see Mystic Pizza at Ivoryton Playhouse before it closes on July 28.
Mystic Pizza runs June 27-July 28, 2024, at Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, CT. Tickets are available online at ivorytonplayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at (860) 767-7318.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.
Mystic Pizza runs June 27-July 28, 2024, at Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, CT. Tickets are available online at ivorytonplayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at (860) 767-7318.
Kiersten Bjork is a professional theatremaker, performer, and reviewer (Connecticut Critics Circle) from Branford, CT.