Well, that certainly was NOT my case with "The Waitress"! Since I first encountered it, and its amazing score by Sara Bareilles, I've been captivated. I have the score as sung by Bareilles and have listened to it many times. No Broadway cast album exists because it wasn't deemed worthy, but, none-the-less, it engendered a worthy cult following. Of which I am a devoted member.
It is based upon a movie. As a vehicle, it has a rather pedestrian plot. And perhaps that's what the critics found disappointing, I don't know. Of all the things that make a story amazing, where this version of "The Waitress" succeeds is in Character, Relationship, and Theme.
The characters are all compelling, some unique, each more than the sum of any stereotype that they suggested. The relationships are both archetypal and--best of all--surprising! Finally, the theme is profound. What is the meaning of our lives? How do we find happiness amidst all the rabble of obligations, choices and fears? Now, THAT'S entertainment! And this production of "The Waitress" at Olney Theatre Center is sheer perfection.
The cast deserves a paragraph each to describe their merits and my deep appreciation of their talents. I will; however, spare you and just do shout-outs to the key players--but don't think it's going to be brief!
Ethan Watermeier as Cal, the owner of the Pie Cafe, was Vic Taybac from TV's Alice rolled up in Jack Black from anything he's ever done topped with ninja warrior aspirations: a sweet potato and cream cheese luncheon special pie.
Bobby Smith as old Joe was the only DMV veteran that I knew, and played the role of a kindly curmudgeon like he was born to it: a classic lemon meringue pie with a sweet crunchy coconut topping.
Ashley D. Nguyen as Dawn seized my heart and then took it to a special place of endearment: an apple, blueberry, strawberry fruit pie with a perfectly engineered dough lattice top coated in pure cane sugar and ginger zest.
Sam C. Jones as Ogie (Dawn's love interest) was fearless in his quirkiness, theatrical in his physicality, and magical in his charming persistence: a double Oreo chocolate chip and walnut pie with extra sprinkles and pop rocks.
Okay, we're down to the top three and I'm over the pie theme. #3 Allison Blackwell as waitress #2, Becky. She held her own throughout until she got to the song "I Didn't Plan It" at the beginning of the second act. That's when she blew the fucking door off the barn! It was all I could do not to stand up in ovation as last powerful echoes of amazing voice echoed off the walls of the mezzanine.
#2 David Socolar as Dr. Pomatter, our protagonist's OYBGN and erstwhile lover. I think he played the same role as part of a national tour of the show from Broadway, but no matter, he was amazing, and his performance suitably polished without any whiff of staleness. His physicality in pursuit of comedy held a mark of perfect timing while still being fresh enough to delight. His voice was enchanting and no more so than in his rendition of "You Matter To Me".
So this brings us to #1, and let's face it, the show is called "The Waitress". Malinda (just Malinda--like Madonna, Cher and God) was utterly amazing a Jenna--THE waitress. What started out as a rather pedestrian liking, grew with every sce
ne until I was so complete "team-Jenna" that I hung on her every utterance. And she was not simply the namesake heart of the show, but her character was the heart of the theme. The Waitress is about life and how we choose to live it. Do we accept our fate? Do we make the best we can of our circumstances? Or do we do whatever it takes to own a life without regrets? I can't think of a more worthy exploration in the form of a musical. And Malinda's performance embodied this idea with such a seamless thread, like the perfect recipe it was.
Sugar. Butter. Flour....
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