Broadway in Chicago Presents WAITRESS -Review by Picture this Post

The magic set that moves and melds from diner, to the title role waitress’ living room, and then to her gynecologist office is “cute” …

The imaginative names that the title role waitress names her daily pie creations to signal her inner life status are “cute”…

Fellow waitresses—one a long suffering hard ass with an invalid husband at home (Charity Angél Dawson) and the other an Revolutionary War re-enacter who has a hard time getting over her shyness to find a man (Lenne Klingaman) and then finds him in quirky Ogie (Jeremy Morse)—are “cute”.

But most of all, it’s Jenna, the golden haired title role waitress herself (Desi Oakley) who is “cute” – and her likability is the glue that holds the story line together.

By this reviewer’s lights, the music too might be called “cute” rather than musical theater masterpieces on par with Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers and Hammerstein, etc.

That said, every song is more than given its due by this cast’s strong voices—from lead to ensemble. The songs create momentum and do most of the tale telling.

In a loveless marriage, Jenna finds solace in her baked pie creations and is encouraged to enter a pie making contest by her friends and also a particular crotchedy customer Joe who is a regular (Larry Marshall). When she finds out she is pregnant her world is turned upside down, and especially since it also launches an affair with her somewhat awkward gynecologist Dr. Pomatter (Bryan Fenkart).

The musical (Book-Jessie Nelson and Music/Lyrics by Sara Bareilles) is based on an earlier film by Adrienne Shelley. The music – even when lyrics are about serious stuff- have, at least for this writer a light as whipped cream on a good pie feel that lightens up the underlying story. It’s so light and breezy one can imagine it as good summer family outing fare. BUT- and it’s a big BUT—it’s a plot line full of philandering and illicit affairs, which means a Parental Guidance warning may be in order.

Cast:

DESI OAKLEY ( Jenna )
CHARITY ANGÉL DAWSON ( Becky )
LENNE KLINGAMAN ( Dawn)
BRYAN FENKART ( Dr. Pomatter
NICK BAILEY (Earl)
LARRY MARSHALL ( Joe) Jesus Christ Superstar !
RYAN G. DUNKIN ( Cal )
JEREMY MORSE ( Ogie)
SKYLER ADAMS ( Swing, Dance Captain, u/s Pomatter
CHANTE CARMEL (Ensemble, u/s Becky)
MARK CHRISTINE ( Ensemble, u/s Cal, u/s Ogie )
JIM HOGAN ( Ensemble, u/s Dr. Pomatter, u/s Ogie, u/s Earl )
DAVID HUGHEY ( Swing, u/s Cal, u/s Joe )
DONTERRIO JOHNSON ( Ensemble, u/s Joe)
KYRA KENNEDY ( Ensemble, u/s Jenna, u/s Dawn ).
EMILY KOCH ( Swing, u/s Jenna , u/s Dawn)
MAIESHA MCQUEEN ( Ensemble, Nurse Norma, u/s Becky )
GERIANNE PÉREZ ( Ensemble, u/s Dawn )
GRACE STOCKDALE ( Ensemble, u/s Jenna)

Note: An excerpt of this review appears in Theatre in Chicago

About the Author: Amy Munice

Amy Munice is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Publisher of Picture This Post. She covers books, dance, film, theater, music, museums and travel. Prior to founding Picture This Post, Amy was a freelance writer and global PR specialist for decades—writing and ghostwriting thousands of articles and promotional communications on a wide range of technical and not-so-technical topics.

Amy hopes the magazine’s click-a-picture-to-read-a-vivid-account format will nourish those ever hunting for under-discovered cultural treasures. She especially loves writing articles about travel finds, showcasing works by cultural warriors of a progressive bent, and shining a light on bold, creative strokes by fledgling artists in all genres.

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