Broadway is back, as we saw over the weekend with the 74th annual Tony awards!
With the return of the Great White Wave comes a number of reboots and reopenings, including the long-standing success Waitress starring Sara Bareilles. Sara is an absolute powerhouse developing the music and lyrics for the musical and now taking on the lead with the return of the show, it is amazing to see her perform some beautiful songs.
Waitress the Musical is loosely based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly.
Jenna (Sara Bareilles) is a waitress in a small town in middle America with big dreams, she is stuck in a loveless and abusive marriage but would like one day to move from the town and start over baking pies.
Working alongside Dawn (Caitlin Houlahan) and Becky (Charity Angel Dawson), Jenna slowly comes around to the idea of following her dreams, that is until Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling) comes to town and Jenna’s world is turned upside down.
Director Diane Paulus has created a musical that will make you happy and want pie, maybe not the blueberry bacon pie, being that I’m vegetarian, but there is something about the musical that makes you realize that there is good in this world. You will leave the theater with a smile on your face after seeing this production.
Waitress isn’t all song and dance, there is a story about how a strong woman who has been broken down after years of being stuck in an abusive relationship finally finds the strength in herself to follow her dreams.
The orchestration by Sara Bareilles is outstanding. The music is just so joyous and there are so many songs that are uplifting. Don’t get me wrong there is a song about physical and mental abuse that is awkward and difficult to watch, but interestingly enough it is uncomfortable due to the nature of the subject.
Sara Bareilles as Jenna is perfection. She is just amazing in the role. She is venerable and believable and there is something about the characterization that you are empathetic and just want to see the best for her.
Caitlin Houlahan as Dawn is the best friend and work colleague we all need in our lives. She is the epitome of kind and nervous all at the same time. There is something about the performance that you can see yourself or somebody that you know, the anxious and nervous type who has a big heart and just that little bit quirky, but in a good way.
Stand out performance for me is Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie, the unique individual who is in love with Dawn and almost steals the show as he is so funny. You cannot help but laugh whenever he is on stage, the performance is outstanding and there are moments where you just can’t help but laugh with every movement or gesture. He is definitely a highlight of the production.
Waitress is the perfect musical to welcome back audiences to Broadway after the 18-month hiatus. It is a happy, uplifting and joyous musical that will leave you smiling.
Waitress is currently playing at the Barrymore Theater.