If you never quite got over your “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or “Pokémon” phase from middle school, then Tisch alum Philip Kenner’s play “The Mall The Mall The Mall” is for you.

Directed by James Wyrwicz, the play follows three young friends, all portrayed by Tisch alumni —  Naomi (Ellena Eshraghi), Viv (Mahayla Laurence) and Charlie (Trent M. Williams) — as they traverse the mall. Naomi leads the charge into Hot Topic, where they discover all of the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” merch is missing. This leads the trio of nerds on a wild goose chase, on which each of them must face their own battle with consumerism.

All the while, two ominous figures of capitalism Fov (Mikey Fiocco) and Sylvia (Mia Wurgaft) — both also played by Tisch alumni — are on an ambiguous mission to destroy the teens. Fiocco and Wurgaft hilariously transition from character to character in their schemes, with both of them doubling as various sales associates. Wurgaft acts as a forceful Hollister store manager who convinces Charlie with product placement to embrace traditional masculinity in one scene. In another, Fiocco dons a purple bear onesie as a creepy Build-A-Bear Workshop clerk in an attempt to capture Naomi. Their committed, chameleon-like performances mixed with the absurdity of the unfolding events make for endless entertainment.

Beyond simply being a fun time, “The Mall The Mall The Mall” serves as a love letter to fandom. Naomi, Viv and Charlie are geeks who constantly reference their favorite shows and video games. They even have their own choreographed Team Rocket-like call to action to “defend nerd culture from the foolish nation.” While the teens may be cringey, it’s clear they’re having a grand old time. 

Their interests even help forward the plot multiple times: When Viv and Naomi find themselves in the Apple store, Siri puts Viv to a knowledge test, which she passes thanks to her expertise on all things Pokémon. Their utter lack of shame while expressing their interests subtly inspires audiences to embrace being cringe, and perhaps even remind them of similar phases they went through. 

The play’s commentary on consumer culture, however, is oftentimes too on-the-nose. During the production’s opening moments, every actor stands on stage and declares an item they want to buy: “I want a new massage chair. I want to be the kind of person who buys a new massage chair.” While this immediately cues audiences into the central message of the show — that consumerism strips away individual identity — it also feels too upfront. Rather than allowing audiences to piece together the theme themselves through subtler writing, the production seems as though it doesn’t fully trust its viewers. 

Still, “The Mall The Mall The Mall” proves to be 75-minutes of fun taken at face value. With constant gags — like the ever-growing product names at Bath & Body Works — and references to beloved shows like “Veronica Mars” and webcomic “Homestuck,” the production is a worthwhile viewing. Although the clunky writing may dissuade some audience members, those looking to nerd out and have a laugh are right where they belong.

“The Mall The Mall The Mall” is running at The Tank until March 22. Tickets are available online.

Contact Skylar Boilard at [email protected].