The verdict is out! 5th Ave Theatre presents: “Waitress”

“Waitress,” in 5th Avenue’s words, is Sara Bareilles’s pop-rock musical filled with scrumptious pie—so much pie—and one of the most popular musicals of the past decade. It’s a story of friendship, a chosen family, and embracing love from unexpected places. The protagonist, Jenna Hunterson, dreams of leaving behind a life she never imagined for herself, and a baking contest could be her ticket out. Supported by her best friends, Jenna chooses to open her heart to the messier parts of life, which certainly don’t come with a recipe. The running time for “Waitress” is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission. It runs from March 11 to March 30.

The musical opens with a gorgeous set with a very pretty pink aesthetic. The story takes place almost entirely in and around the diner introduced in the first scene. The musical is the best emotional rollercoaster I’ve ever been on, with elements of humor, sadness, and happiness, that made baking feel magical. The musical takes the audience through a wonderful journey in the life of Jenna, played by Kerstin Anderson.

The three waitresses are like sisters to one another—Jenna, Dawn, and Becky, each has wildly different personalities that seep into their costume design and hair. The song “Club Knocked Up” is a mix of great music and comedy. It was a delight to watch the constant banter between Cal, (portrayed by Yusef Seevers) the chef and manager of Joe’s Pies, and one of the waitresses, Becky, (played by Porsha Shaw) only to be surprised by what’s to follow in the musical. Tori Gresham, as Dawn, was a delight to watch. The nerdiness and awkwardness she brings are central to Dawn’s character and are crucial in fleshing out the play’s comedic relief. But just when you think that is peak humor, Ogie (played by Kennedy Kanagawa) comes in with an element of surprise—a quirky character in his own right, full of whimsy and an impressive operatic solo.

Every time a new character is introduced to the stage, they capture the audience’s full attention, and each character comes in with a wow moment. By the end of the play, it is a challenge to decide who your favorite character is. However, I would recommend keeping an eye out for the young actress Sayla Roy who stole quite a few hearts and brought out a lot of “awws.” 

The ensemble does a brilliant job of adding even more flavor to the musical. It is impressive to witness them carry out the choreography that involves balancing pies while remaining poised dancers. Ensemble member, Alyza Delpan-Monley, especially stood out with her top-notch dancing skills and facial expressions.

The music in this production is top-tier, hitting all the tunes from this show with class. Their take on the beloved song, “She Used to be Mine,” was phenomenal. The singing, live orchestra, set, lights, and costumes were mixed together to create a flawless production. 

The 5th Avenue Theatre keeps raising its standards with every show. This production is bound to bring tears to your eyes—both happy and sad. For all rom-com lovers, this production is sure to be in your top 10.  Dr. Pommater (played by Adam Standley) says about Jenna’s pie, “Delicious is not a good enough word.” In that spirit, “Perfect is not a good enough word to describe this musical.” You’ll want to get a slice of this fun pie-filled musical while it’s still hot!