My dear late mother had worked her way through college as a waitress many years ago. Subsequently, about 60 years ago, my soon-to-be roommate and I were standing on a train platform in New York about to embark on our life-changing odyssey to the University of Texas in Austin. Just before we boarded that train, Mom took us aside and cautioned us. “When you boys are in the dining halls or restaurants, you make sure you give proper tips to those waitresses. They work very hard!” As I look back on that episode, it seems very appropriate that now, all these years later, there would be a Broadway show to recognize those hardworking women (men, too) that so often make “dining out” something to celebrate for us all.
Enter “WAITRESS,” the frothy, fun-filled, and often poignant musical, now gracing the stage of Houston’s Theater Under the Stars. (TUTS) Based on the 2007 film written by Adrienne Shelly, this edition, directed and choreographed by Lisa Shriver, has a Book by Jessie Nelson and Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles. It all comes together to weave the sweetly charming tale of a waitress named Jenna (Kerstin Anderson), who works at Joe’s Pie Diner. The place could be any friendly neighborhood coffee shop in America. (Scenic Designer, Julia Hayes Welch, and pleasant neon-dappled lighting by Robert J. Aguilar). Jenna has a rare gift for making assorted delicious pies, and the opening, full cast number, “What’s Inside?” celebrates her pie ingredients with a catchy, chant-like refrain of, “Butter, Sugar, Flour,” that slowly draws us in. As would be the case throughout the show, the ensemble singing was terrific. (Music Director, Matthew Antonio Perri).
As the pie shop begins the day, there is a bright and well-choreographed “Opening Up” number that gives us our first good look at the customers, waitresses and one demanding and crotchety old guy (Allen Fitzpatrick) who just sits reading his paper, but amusingly gives the waitresses very specific instructions when ordering his meals. The three waitresses include Jenna’s friends, Dawn (Tori Gresham) and Becky (Porscha Shaw). The plot thickens a bit when her girlfriends encourage Jenna to take a pregnancy test that might explain her sudden bouts of morning sickness. They join in song for, “The Negative,” but when her pregnancy is confirmed, Jenna is less than enthusiastic because her oafish husband, Earl (Dane Stokinger), is a considerable lout. But Jenna is determined to stay positive, focusing on her work as the talented Ms. Anderson brilliantly delivers the song, “What Baking can Do.” Anderson possesses a powerful and very beautiful voice which I could very easily have attributed to another, because the printed program listed a different actress in this starring role. Luckily, while at my seat, I had noticed a little printed card that fell out of my program and onto the floor.
When I picked it up I noticed it announced: “In TUTS production of WAITRESS the role of JENNA is played by Kerstin Anderson.” I thank my lucky stars I noticed that or I could very well have been honoring the wrong performer with my comments.
During the knockout number, “When He Sees Me,” the shy character of Dawn is working up her courage for a forthcoming first date with Ogie (Kennedy Kanagawa). It seems it will be a match made in heaven because they are both fanatics about reenactments of American colonial history, with her favoring Dolly Madison fantasies, and Ogie taking on the persona of Paul Revere as they explode hilariously across the stage in his zany and riotous tour-de-force of, “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me.” With great work from the full company, the number had the audience in stitches.
For an added plot twist, when Jenna makes an appointment with her gynecologist, she discovers a new physician has the position, and Dr. Pomatter (Adam Standley) is a man! It’s awkward at first, but as luck would have it, they hit it off well, and besides, he loves her pies, as they duet well for, “It Only Takes a Taste.” Another duet would follow as Jenna and Earl work through some of their issues with the song, “You Will Still Be Mine.” And all of this is just Act One!
Now if you are wondering will the baby be a boy or girl, will things work out for Dawn and Ogie, will Jenna leave Earl for the doctor, or what becomes of the cranky old man who reads his newspaper, then you need to pick up a ticket for this weekend’s final performances. There will be lots of pleasant surprises and plenty of fun and fine music awaiting you. You won’t be disappointed.
WAITRESS continues through this weekend at Houston’s Hobby Center main stage. Remaining performances are Friday & Saturday at 8pm, with 2pm matinee performances on both Saturday and Sunday. For tickets visit the website at www.tuts.com, or call (713) 558-8887 locally, and (888) 558-3882 (outside of Houston).
NOTE: Online readers may enjoy this preview peek at the show:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BT1YDpwwX7zeM1lc-r3gMloRp1BcQJYw/view
A member of both The Lambs Club Inc. and The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA), the columns of DAVID DOW BENTLEY III have appeared on Broadway websites, in newspapers from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast, and may be viewed online at the website: www.ThePeoplesCritic.com . E-mail may be directed to ThePeoplesCritic3@gmail.com.
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