North Shore Music Theatre Serves Up Heart and Entertainment in 'Waitress'

Say the three magic words - Sugar, butter, and flour.

North Shore Music Theatre welcomes audiences to Waitress, the hit Broadway musical, featuring music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. Jenna Hunterson, a talented pie maker, unexpectedly becomes pregnant in her unhappy marriage with her husband. As she navigates through pregnancy and complicated affairs, Jenna must figure out her pathway.

I have never seen Waitress, so I had the wonderful opportunity to be introduced to it by North Shore Music Theatre. Waitress is a fun, witty, and transformative show. With strong performances, clever direction, and just the right amount of sweetness, NSMT’s Waitress delivers a touching story that reminds us to stay true to ourselves.

Christine Dwyer steps into the pie-baking shoes of Jenna Hunterson, a waitress at a local cafe. Jenna is a relatable character, brought to life by Dwyer’s resonating connection to the role. Dwyer’s singing voice is fantastic, creating beautiful melodies. What I like most about Jenna is her strength and small steps to become a better person.

NSMT’s Waitress combines a talented and well-cast ensemble. As I have said, no small part exists in the theater. The ensemble shines in dances and contributes to the show’s heartwarming story.

Maggie Elizabeth May (Dawn) and Brandi Chavonne Massey (Becky) are scene stealers as Jenna’s quirky and sassy co-workers. The whole audience belted out laughing in response to Massey’s deliveries and side-eye. Their dynamic reflects the importance of co-worker friendships in any job. They will always look out for each other.

You can feel the mood change in an instant when Earl (Matt DeAngelis) and Dr. Pomatter (Brandon Kalm) enter the stage. While audiences turned their noses up at Earl’s despicable behavior, they laughed and cheered Dr. Pomatter’s awkward and caring nature. An interesting behind-the-scenes trivia is that Dwyer and DeAngelis are married in real life!

Jenna’s romance conflict is not the only love story in the musical. Dawn and Becky also engage in their own subplots with Ogie (Courter Simmons) and Cal (Arnold Harper II). While Becky and Cal battle in a sass contest, Dawn and Ogie share memorable moments.

Simmons is the comedy wizard of Waitress with his hilarious wit and side-splitting physical comedy. My cheeks hurt from laughing so much! We don’t see physical comedy enough, and Simmons deserves a huge round of applause for his vivacious energy.

One character who becomes an unexpected favorite is Joe, played with pitch-perfect sarcasm and tenderness by Keith Lee Grant. He may seem like the cranky cafe regular, but as his song ‘Take it from an Old Man’ recounts that you’ll always have someone to rely on.

Speaking of the songs, Waitress would be lost without its earworthy rhythms. Conducted by Milton Granger and a live orchestra, songs include ‘What Baking Can Do,’ ‘Never Getting Rid of Me,’ and ‘Everything Changes.’

NSMT’s technical team is hard at work with smooth transitions, lighting work, and oh yes, pies! Pie is a star of its own in Waitress. The stage is even designed like one! With all the scrumptious pies, I was craving one by the end. Pies symbolize Jenna’s creative abilities and possibilities.

Director Kevin P. Hill dons the most integral ingredient in Waitress, and that’s the message. Waitress is a show about connecting the slices of life. Change is an important theme. This show reflects human nature, demonstrating that our decisions and mistakes are all part of life. Make decisions that reflect your pathway.

Waitress is an absolute treat at NSMT. It’s funny, emotional, and uplifting. It plays until June 15, so catch a show before the final pie is served.