**** Highly Recommended Audiences are loving Paramount Theatre’s production of Waitress, a musical of contrasts. Parts of the story are dark and difficult – domestic abuse, infidelity and single parenthood aren’t usually the subject of a musical. On the other hand, Waitress is also about dreams, determination, friendship – and pies. Except for the sound – the orchestra overwhelms the female singers so their mics are turned up to the point their voices are screechy – the production is wonderful. I really enjoyed it. 4 Spotlights
There’s a diner – Joe’s Pie Diner – somewhere in the South, run by a guy named Cal (Jonah D. Winston). Jenna (Michelle Lauto) is a waitress and Joe’s pie baker. The other waitresses, Becky (Teressa LaGamba) and Dawn (Kelly Felthous), are Jenna’s best friends. Joe (Ron E. Rains), a grumpy old man, is Jenna’s favorite customer.
Jenna’s husband, Earl (Ian Paul Custer) is a piece of work. He drops in at the Diner and takes all her tips. Despite the fact that she’s the only wage-earner, he wants her to quit and stay home to take care of him. Jenna just wants out of the marriage.
When Jenna finds out she’s pregnant, she’s sure she’ll never be able to leave him. When she tells Earl, he demands that she love him more than she loves the baby. When she goes to the ob-gyn office for her first check-up, she meets Dr. Pomatter (David Moreland) and Nurse Norma (Sophie Grimm). She and the Doc can’t keep their hands off each other, and have an affair that lasts through most of the pregnancy.
Knowing she wants to get out of the marriage, Joe suggests that she enter a pie-baking contest with a $10,000 prize, so she starts saving money by hiding cash in the sofa cushions at home. When Earl finds the money, he shows his true colors.
Meanwhile, Jenna catches Becky making out with Cal, who’s unhappily married. Becky is not embarrassed at all saying you find passion where you find it. Ogie (Jackson Evans through 3/19, Nik Kmiecik 3/19-3/30), who’s been mooning over Dawn, finally works up enough nerve to ask her out on a date. Evans is responsible for most of the laughs with his brilliant slapstick comedy and pratfalls.
Other characters in Waitress: Young Jenna (Reese Bella or Julianna Velez), Jenna’s Mother (Sophie Grimm), Jenna’s Father (David Sobbe), Francine (Laura Savage), Lulu (Reese Bella or Julianna Velez).
The ensemble includes Marta Bady, Logan Becker, Andrés Enriquez, Sophie Grimm, Devon Hayakawa, Emma Ogea, Laura Savage, David Stobbe and Anakin Jace White.
The Paramount orchestra is conducted by Celia Villacres, with Kailey Rockwell as Associate Conductor. Musicians include Celia Villacres (Keyboard 1), Kailey Rockwell (Keyboard 2), Dave Saenger (Guitar 1), Justin LaForte (Guitar 2), Jocelyn Shoulders (Cello), Matt Ulery (Bass) and Lior Shragg (Drums).
Waitress is based on the 2007 movie of the same name, written by Adrienne Shelly. The musical was written by Jessie Nelson with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. It premiered on Broadway in 2016, starring Chicago’ own Jessie Mueller. For the first time in Broadway history, the production team was all female. The Paramount production is directed and choreographed by Katie Spelman, with music directed and conducted by Celia Villacres.
Waitress runs through March 30th at the Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Blvd, Aurora. Valet parking is available, plenty of street parking too.
Running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Wednesdays at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 1:00 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets range from $56-$158. FYI (630) 896-6666 or www.paramountaurora.com