*Spoilers ahead*
Quick synopsis: With music by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson, Waitress tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress, who is in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl. After she gets pregnant, she and her doctor start an affair. Despite her troubles, she enters a pie baking contest in hopes of winning the grand prize.
Rating: 4.5/5
Underrated song: You Matter to Me
Cast that I saw:
Jenna -- Nicolette Robinson
Cal -- Benny Elledge
Dawn -- Lenne Klingaman
Becky -- Natasha Yvette Williams
Joe -- Al Roker
Earl -- Ben Thompson
and so many more talented people :)
When I saw this show, I knew the entire soundtrack by heart. Usually, this can be risky because you get all these visions in your head about what everything should look like, but when I saw Waitress it was everything I expected and more. I loved the set, costumes, blocking, and choreography, because it was vibrant but didn't take away from the talent.
The main character, Jenna, is abused by her husband, and when she becomes pregnant she starts an affair with her doctor. Her own husband treats her horribly, but her doctor and his wife are happily married. The audience gets to see Jenna's whole life story and her ongoing struggle with what is morally "right" or right for her.
The storyline was unlike any musical I'd seen before. Broadway has a reputation of having upbeat, cookie-cutter musical numbers and the stereotypical boy-meets-girl storyline. Of course, shows like that are a fun escape from the real world, but I'm so relieved that we've started seeing more shows that tackle real-life problems and issues. By having these stories, it's easier to relate to the characters (rather than being secretly jealous of their perfect life!) and to start conversations about important topics.
I'm heartbroken that this show closed so soon. Its plot was really unique to Broadway, and it served as a valuable asset to the musical theater community. Let's just keep praying that it gets a revival one day!
Xo, Weezy