Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage. Pouring her heart into her pies, she crafts desserts that mirror her topsy-turvy life, such as “The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie” and “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie.” When a baking contest in a nearby county — and a satisfying encounter with someone new — show Jenna a chance at a fresh start, she must find the courage to seize it. Change is on the menu, as long as Jenna can write her own perfectly personal recipe for happiness.
AT&T’s Broadway at the Center has done an excellent job of choosing some of the best musicals to kickstart the theatre’s welcome back initiatives to its patrons after a long season of Covid. Without a doubt, the production carries heavyweights that have the power to keep its fans excited about what is going to happen next with each raising and lowering of the curtains. With original music by 8-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, the production doesn’t lack a single moment of awe-inspiring songs with excellent actors playing pivotal roles to match. In the opening scenes, there is no waiting period as to when the waitresses begin humorously attacking themselves, their fellow waitresses, and the community of customers that lay it all on the line for a good piece of pie and great life lessons from the girls who are seemingly sweet as pie but have their own recipes for the madness in their personal lives.
The plot unfolds as Jenna (Jisel Soleil Ayon) finds herself newly pregnant amid an unhappy relationship. Although her co-workers try to encourage and support her, they have to allow her to make the best decisions for her and her unborn child. While she is the best pie-maker in town, she feels like she will be the worst mother and can’t seem to get too excited about it. When she has to find a new doctor because the one who supported her is no longer available, she initially struggles to let Dr. Pomatter (David Socolar) examine her. As she warms up to him, she ends up in a relationship with him even though they both are married. In the meantime, her co-workers Dawn (Gabriella Marzetta) and Becky (Dominique Kent) are also looking for male companionship. When they find out that Becky is sleeping with their crazy boss, Cal (Jake Mills), they give her a hard time but realize that she has a right to find love wherever it meets her. Like any small town, some regulars give the waitresses a hard time, yet they are loyal patrons who have become like members of their own families. Michael R. Douglas is no exception as he comes in daily making demands while also encouraging Jenna to enter into the Pie Competition and follow her dreams to own her own shop with the winnings. When she becomes pregnant, she feels like she will not be able to save anymore to enter the competition. When her husband discovers her secret stash of money, he takes it to fulfill his own wishes because he feels that all her attention will go to the baby once it is born.
As the plot deepens into examining the lives of the waitresses, it never fails to show the bond the women have for each other and the excitement they share when each finds a partner who can make them happy. The emotional brunt of the storyline is the relationship between the women and the uniqueness and excitement that the ladies’ male partners, Cal, Ogie (Brian Lundy), Joe (Shawn W. Smith), and Dr. Pomatter, bring to the table. The relentless humor of their personalities brings wit and wisdom to the pie shop and brings the ladies closer together as they continuously bond to support one another. When Jenna gives birth, there is a complete twist in humanity which allows Jenna the opportunity to open her own pie shop and give herself and her family the life they deserve. Additionally, Nurse Norma (Dayna Marie Quincy) and customer Joe (Michael R. Douglass) keep the audience in stitches with short quips and one-liners that keep the humor flowing throughout. Last but definitely not least, the vocal performances of the characters were outstanding and made the entire production well worth waitressing for.
“Waitress” recently played at the Winspear Opera House For 5 Days Only, May 10-15
