Photo by Joan Marcus
One of the biggest hits of this season, which doesn't involve a certain rapping founding father, is unquestionably the musical adaptation of Waitress. Led by Tony winner Jessie Mueller - one of the finest Broadway musical actors currently on stage - the production offers us a generous helping of sugar to sweeten our day and once in a while, there's nothing wrong with sinking our teeth into something as sweet as this. That's why Waitress is our #ShowOfTheWeek!
Based on the 2007 film, the story is as American as apple pie (if you will)... Jenna, a waitress at a small-town, roadside diner, is stuck in a loveless marriage and finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Her culinary (and wizardry) skills in pie-making act as both her escapism and her possible escape to a better life, as she dreams of winning a lucrative baking contest in a nearby county. Matters become complicated, when she falls for the new doctor in town Dr. Pomatter, who just happens to be married.
I'll refrain from any spoilers but the pleasantly surprising thing about this musical is that it doesn't necessarily end as predictably as you think it might. Sure, there are moments when every female in the audience lets out a loud cry of appreciation when our heroine triumphs over the male wrongdoers of the story, but these aren't your traditional relationships and true to life, they aren't without complications.
Click HERE to read our interview with Jessie Mueller.
Jessie Mueller is once again proving her star power in an understated and yet powerful performance as Jenna. Her likeability and natural approach lend themselves perfectly to creating an onstage underdog you can't help but root for. You might have called this "The Jessie Mueller Show," were it not for the comic relief subplots brought to life by four highly skilled character actors. Christopher Fitzgerald earned a Drama Desk Award and Tony nomination for his over-the-top antics as geeky, love interest Ogie, who pursues quirky Dawn (Kimiko Glenn) with an unrelenting vigour. Whilst Keala Settle impresses as no-nonsense Becky, belting out her musical numbers on an unprecedented scale and providing the odd twist and turn with colleague Cal (Eric Anderson) along the way.
The score by Grammy and Tony nominee Sara Bareilles is infectious and motif-heavy. The ingredients of the pies - sugar, butter, flour etc. - are whispered almost hypnotically into our ears throughout the piece. The songs range from big ensemble pieces with tightly-knit choreography, to solo power ballads and touching show tunes like one of my personal highlights "Take It From an Old Man" (sung by another terrific character actor in Dakin Matthews).
All in all, Waitress offers us that perfect dessert to end an evening with. Please may I go back for seconds?!
Click here for tickets to Waitress for performances through to 1 January 2017 at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Keala Settle, Jessie Mueller & Kimiko Glenn in Waitress More Production PhotosOriginally published on