The film "Waitress" was released in 2007, with Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Andy Griffith, starring, and Adrienne Shelley writing, directing, and playing the role of Dawn. Rumors of a musical version of the film were confirmed in 2014, and in 2016, this sweet treat had its Broadway debut.
The production closely follows the plot of the film, with a few minor changes. In order to bring the voice of Adrienne Shelley, who was tragically killed three months before the premiere of the film in 2007, to the production, Jessie Nelson used some of her unfinished scripts when writing the book. Even the dialogue is almost identical. However, the subtle changes, bright staging, stellar cast, and upbeat score by Sara Bareilles breathes new life into the story of Jenna, pregnant piemaker and waitress trapped in an abusive marriage.
The role of Jenna is currently being played by Betsy Wolfe (Jessie Mueller and Bareilles also had the role); she's a little blonde powerhouse with vocals that can compare with the best of them. Wolfe plays Jenna with the perfect balance of sweet and tart: she's vulnerable, resigned to her life. Even when she's in her happy place, baking pies, there's an overlay of mournfulness, though that makes the occasions on which we do see Wolfe's bright smile all the brighter.
But Waitress isn't a sad show. If anything, it's a remarkable testament to optimism, perseverance, and finding your inner strength. It's also focused on relationships between women--Jenna and her coworkers, Dawn and Becky (Caitlin Houlahan and Charity Angel Dawson, respectively), Jenna and her baby, and Jenna and her own mother. Jenna's relationships with the men in her life show three vastly different angles. Her husband Earl is a cruel, critical drunkard, the gynecologist she has an affair with is awkward yet lovable, and Joe, the owner of the diner where Jenna works, is a crotchety old man who ends up being Jenna's savior.
Jenna, Becky, and Dawn each have their own personal issues. Dawn lives alone and struggles with communicating with others. Becky's husband is severely disabled, and her days are spent taking care of him. However, they all lean on each other, and even when they argue or disagree, they come back to each other with earnest apologies and support.
The evening I saw the show, Molly Jobe was on for Dawn, and she also did a fantastic job. With her, Dawn is timid, sweet, and a little naive, but with a good heart. Her solo, "When He Sees Me," is my personal favorite song (if I absolutely had to pick a favorite). Charity Angél Dawson is an emotional powerhouse as Becky, and she absolutely killed her solo, "I Didn't Plan It."
A lot of the small details from the movie have been kicked up a notch for the stage. Dawn, for example, goes from being only slightly neurotic to having full-blown OCD. We also see the relationships between Dawn and her Internet suitor Ogie (the hilariously dorky Christopher Fitzgerald) and Becky and Cal (the waitresses' boss, played excellently by Eric Anderson) evolve more. Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling) has more secondhand-embarrassment inducing moments here. For example, when Jenna offers him a pie, he enthusiastically tells her he doesn't eat sugar--which makes him devouring the pie the minute she leaves the room all the more entertaining. Later, he tells Jenna that she "reminds me of a girl I once knew...God, by now she's well in middle age. Probably forty-one...or forty-two," ignoring Jenna's confused and incredulous face until she skeptically replies, "Um, thank you?"
Another aspect that is given more detail is Earl, Jenna's husband, and how he controls her. While his lines, like a majority of the dialogue, is taken almost word for word from the movie script, there are a few additions that show just how bad he is. During their final argument, he destroys his guitar in his anger and threatens to kill himself because Jenna lied to him. He repeatedly throws things, insults Jenna, and talks about how his boss has it out for him. He's also a musician now, and of course, has a song for himself: "You Will Still Be Mine." After he finds out Jenna is pregnant, he forces her to promise not to love the baby more than she loves him. In a rare good mood, he recalls the early days of their romance and tries to recall Jenna's favorite of the songs he wrote for her. Fittingly, it's Jenna who remembers the line she once loved so much, but now fills her with dread: "'Till the sun don't shine...you will still be mine."
The show also elaborates more on Jenna's relationship with her mother. During the song "What Baking Can Do," while Jenna recalls baking with her mother and how baking has always provided comfort for her, the audience sees two people, Jenna's parents, behind her, arguing violently. Though it's never stated, it's now clear to the audience that their marriage was similar to Jenna and Earl's, and may explain why Jenna married him; she didn't see any red flags because she had been raised around an abusive man.
The three men in Jenna's life all have starkly different relationships with her. Where Earl is condescending and rude, Dr. Pomatter is doting and supportive. Meanwhile, the owner of the diner, Joe (Dakin Matthews) prefers Jenna to all the waitresses. They match each other's sarcasm with ease, and Joe ultimately admits that Jenna is his only friend--and he cares about her a lot more than he lets on.
Through all the sadness, there are genuinely funny moments. Dr. Pomatter and Ogie have plenty of funny moments, but it's Dawn that gives us comedy gold early on: "Do not insert the (pregnancy) test stick into your vagina!" Even better is when a nurse catches Jenna and Dr. Pomatter in the throes of passion several times--each time in an increasingly complex position. Even Jenna's creative pies can bring a smile: "Naughty Pecan Pie," "I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie," "In The Dark Dark Chocolate Pie," and "I Can't Have An Affair Because It's Wrong And I Don't Want Earl To Kill Me Pie" are just a few of the gems she comes up with.
The sets are bright, colorful, and effective in their simplicity. The sides of the stage are lined with pies in rotating columns, which the actors utilize during the show. Sara Bareilles' truly wonderful score is played out every night by the Waitress Band, who have their own spot on stage. From humorous short numbers like "Club Knocked Up" to the heart-wrenching "She Used To Be Mine," from the intimate "You Matter To Me" to the uplifting "Everything Changes," the music is absolutely unforgettable.
Despite the minor changes, the show is something the late Adrienne Shelley would be proud of. And if all that isn't enough to convince you to give this show a taste, the Waitress concession stand on the second floor of the theatre sells mini pies (thanks to the pie consultant--yes, that's a real job--Stacy Donnelly, who ensures that the pies both onstage and off are picture perfect. You can also thank her for the delicous smell when you walk in the theatre). Who wouldn't want a slice of that?
