The Cape Playhouse presents WAITRESS. Music and Lyrics by Sara Bareilles. Book by Jessie Nelson. Directed by Eric Rosen. Choreographed by Paul McGill. Music Directed by Ryan Shirar. Scenic Design by Jack Magaw. Costume Design by Devario D. Simmons. Lighting Design by Kat C. Zhou. Sound Design by Andre Pluess. Wig Design by Bobbie Zlotnik. The Cape Playhouse at the Cape Cod Center for the Arts, Dennis, MA, through August 24, 2024.
By Linda Chin
The Cape Playhouse – the longest-running professional summer theater in the country – continues its exciting 98th summer season (the first with Eric Rosen as the new Artistic Director) with a scrumptious production of Sara Bareilles’ Waitress, directed by Rosen himself. Ryan Shirar music directs, and Paul McGill choreographs. Jack Magaw’s lovely scenic design for the main playing area, supported by Kat C. Zhou’s expert lighting design, includes a screened wall that defines the inside of the diner and offers views of the lovely rural landscape and open sky outside. Besides seeing the cast of sixteen performing their hearts out, the audience is gifted with seeing the orchestra of six musicians (conducted by Shirar) perform on-stage throughout the show.
Set in the American South – “a small town off Highway 27, not so long ago,” Waitress centers on the story of Jenna Hunterson (the superbly talented Stephanie Torns), a waitress and expert pie chef at Joe’s Pie Diner. Jenna feels trapped, unable to flee from a dead-end job that offers few prospects for future advancement and small-town life where everyone seems to know your name and your business. Jenna also wants to escape from her abusive and loveless marriage to her high school sweetheart, Jenna’s easy to love – and loathe – husband Earl (Robert Ariza).
Stephanie Torns has a lovely stage presence and a gorgeous singing voice. Her stirring solo that opens Act I (“What’s Inside”) is pitch-perfect. “What Baking Can Do” describes her pleasant childhood memories of baking with her mom. It is these memorable moments with her mom that shaped her “happy place” and her day-by-day routine of escaping from the chaos in her life – and in her head – by creating a pie from scratch every day. For the daily “Special” on the diner’s menu board, she lovingly and intentionally combines ingredients into a “pie de resistance” that reflects her emotional state and is appropriately named. In the musical, some of the featured pies include I Hate My Husband Pie, Marshmallow Mermaid Pie, Pineapple Upside Down Pie, Polka Dot Peach Pie, and A Little Wild, Wild Berry Pie.
The Cape Playhouse tagline “Where Broadway goes to summer” applies to this talented cast, with Broadway veterans playing leading and featured roles. With Jenna, the sweet and sassy Becky (a spirited Soara-Joye Ross), and the sweet and flaky Dawn (a captivating Caitlin Houlahan) form a trio of waitresses/BFFs that add warmth and wit to the workplace and to the respective waitresses’ lives. They chat with the customers, communicate orders to the cocky head cook Cal (Erik Lochtefeld), and tend to the needs of the diner’s owner and namesake, Joe (John Shuman). The other two male actors in the cast – Jenna’s ob/gyn Dr. James (Jim) Pomatter (John Riddle) and Dawn’s very nice and nerdy new boyfriend Ogie (Nick Cearley) also demonstrate considerable charm, comedic timing, and talent. In fact, this entire company of triple threats makes storytelling through acting, singing, and dancing look easy as pie.
Sara Bareilles’ songs are diverse in sound and feel and all brilliantly composed and executed. In “The Negative,” Becky and Dawn support Jenna while she takes a home pregnancy test (after a drunken romp with Earl that she regrets) and maintain a positive outlook while waiting for the result. “When He Sees Me” is a breakout number for Dawn and the company, and Becky’s solo ballad “I Didn’t Plan It” opens Act II on a poignant note that makes one reflect on fidelity, forgiveness, and friendship. In ‘Never Ever Getting Rid of Me” and “I Love You Like a Table,” Ogie and company shine, and Joe, who demonstrates that he is a softy under his gruff exterior (and still has the moves), is delightful in “Take It From An Old Man.”
The fun and funny moments in the book, light-hearted music and lyrics, and physical acting and dance numbers created by the director and choreographer balance more serious matters – domestic violence, poverty/unemployment, extramarital affairs, unwanted pregnancy (note that the “I Don’t Want Earl’s Baby Pie” in the movie is not included in the musical).
Jenna’s/Stephanie Torns’ showstopping rendition of “She Used to Be Mine” – the 17th of 20 musical numbers in this production, hence deep in Act Two – is both worth waiting for and worth the price of admission. (Note: Several of the guests in my party had great difficulty hearing the words and felt the sound mix and the actors’ elocution could be improved but I was completely engaged.
Waitress does include profanity and some racy scenes. Written for mature audiences (and not recommended for children), the musical includes the role of a little girl named Lulu, who will likely not be seen by audience members her age. Carolynn James and Sylvie Lou Weimer share the role and are both cutie pies. For tickets and information, go to:
