Through March 9
Waitress, a musical directed by Victoria Bussert, served up a delicious helping of “Dynamic-Musical-Spiced-with-Talent Pie” on the February 14th opening night at the Beck Center for the Arts. (I saw the Cherry Pie cast. It alternates with the Apple Pie cast.)
Perhaps not surprisingly, considering Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles wrote music and lyrics, every song, whether mournful, angry or comic, enriches this Tony Award-winning musical. In part this is because most performers are Baldwin Wallace music theater majors, but credit should also go to Matthew Webb (music director) and Lauren Marousek (choreographer) as well as to Jeff Herrmann (scenic designer).
Herrmann’s “Joe’s Pie Diner” spreads across the stage, making a vast expanse to exhibit customers (who just happen to be tremendous ensemble and solo dancers) and large racks laden with dozens of pies. Pivoting sections also turn into Jenna’s house and a doctor’s office. Trad A. Burns (lighting), Jack-Anthony Ina (stage manager), and Angie Hayes (sound designer) add the right touches: neon signs, clattering clinking dishes, slamming doors and all.
Based on the 2007 film Waitress by Adrienne Shelly, it sings the sad-ish saga of poor Jenna (dynamic Jaedynn Latter), a pie-inventing genius and waitress. Jenna’s husband Earl (a rough-edged Jack Borenstein) is abusive, unemployed, and — OK, a total bum. She’s supervised at work by Cal (an overbearing boss played by Evan Lilienthatl. Her life as waitress at Joe’s Pie Diner is made bearable by the companionship of two friends and “sister” waitresses, the nerdy Dawn (Kate Magocsi) and down-to-earth Becky (Jai McAllister).
When Jenna discovers she is pregnant, her life spins and — although it takes nine months for her to realize it —joy finds her. Along the way Jenna falls for her already-married OB-GYN (super-charming Elliot Block). Lots of exam-table sex follows.
Poor girl in a misogynist world.
But screenwriter Jessie Nelson’s storyline seems less depressing in director Bussert’s hands. Yes, the men are all rats (except for two — more about them later) and life is dismal, but Jenna is shown to be actively making choices (an affair with her doctor, a drunken night with her husband).
Bad choices, but still, she’s not a pitiful victim of sexist social forces. Latter’s heartfelt “She Used to Be Mine” was a show-stopping exploration into Jenna’s heart that sparked prolonged audience applause. When Latter’s Jenna finds true love and a reason to take charge, she does. Whew!
And the good guys mentioned earlier? One owns Joe’s Diner and, far from the grump he was thought to be, Joe (Matthew Wright) is a good guy. Wright’s mellow “Take It From Me” proves even old grumps can still have great vocal chops.
The nimble Dakota Reinteria as Ogie, the other good man, finds his soul mate in Dawn. He won’t give up until he wins her over via quick steps and leaps over tables and chairs. Reinteria’s physically comic plea to her, “I Love You Like a Table,” brings back memories of other stars, such as Donald O’Connor or Robin Williams. Magocsi’s Dawn soon matches him jump by jump.
(While “Ogie” explains his name is what people from Oklahoma are called, I doubt it. “Okie” maybe? But maybe it was a typo never corrected and now enshrined in the score? Not important, I know, but still….)
The whole show is a song-and-dance-heavy feast, with musical treats already mentioned as well as other numbers, such as Jenna’s opening anthem to flour, butter and sugar (“What’s Inside” [a pie]) to “What Baking Can Do,” and even “Club Knocked Up” (sung by a “pregnant” group in a dream-like sequence).
Ensemble members included Capri Castriotta, Ethan Flanagan, Samyah Henry, Carter Jargo, Dakota Krouse, Justin Lee-Price, Anthony Mejia, Kat Murphy, Kayla Petersen, and Sophia Ruiz. Lily Risner plays young Lulu.
Bottom Line: This charming production embraces food, melody and movement to celebrate life’s unexpected events — after all, you can’t plan everything. However, if you love musicals then odds are you’ll be satisfied by the delights served by Beck Center’s Waitress.
[Written by Laura Kennelly]