Waitress: The Musical (2023) User Reviews

Coping with trauma with sugar, butter, flour...

[malmevik77 · 8/10 · 13 December 2023]

Waitress: The Musical: The Movie Event

I have not seen the movie that this was based on, so I went into this only knowing the "sugar, butter, flour" chanting would be going on. And what a way to start by showing a deeply damaged character that makes pies to express her feelings. A woman who witnessed domestic violence as a child, and experiences it as an adult, hides in the kitchen as her mother taught her. I find myself feeling sad that her need to escape her problems brings happiness to so many other people, but not herself.

There are many comedic moments in this musical. I don't think I've laughed that hard at some of the over the top performances and the sexual innuendo, even with the pain hidden underneath the surface.

Hiding from reality, hiding due to insecurity, hiding from pain. This musical really pushes for the audience to accept that hiding, while acknowledging that it's not healthy, is a common coping mechanism for a variety of reasons. I'm glad to see character growth as the women face their fears in a number of ways.

She Used to Be Mine is the best song you'll ever hear when it comes to self awareness of feeling trapped even believing that it's a trap of your own making.

For the most part, the ending was very satisfying to leave the viewer feeling good as they depart, but I was not a fan. It was very unrealistic to have sheer coincidence solve all your problems at just the right time. I understand that good fortune can arrive with spontaneity, but after 2 hours of gathering the strength to move forward, I don't want to see all dreams coming true in a 2 minute period. I would have liked to see a more realistic ending that showed promise and hope for the future and not have it handed to you like a slice of pie.

Terrific musical version of a mediocre movie

[cherold · 9/10 · 10 February 2024]

Based on an overrated indie movie, Waitress tells the story of a waitress and baker with dreams, a terrible husband, and an unexpected problem. The songs, by star Sara Bareilles, are unusual for a Broadway musical, because they're pretty much Sara Bareilles pop songs, but she's an excellent songwriter and her songs work for both herself and others.

This musical is beautifully staged. This is a filmed stage performance, and often those make you think, this would have been amazing in the theater, but this captures the staging so well that I'm not sure that it would have been better in a theater (probably not with the Broadways seats in my budget).

It's funny, it's touching, the songs and choreography are terrific, the performers are terrific (virtually every significant character gets their own big number), and well, it's just really, really good.

It's also apparently really, really obscure - there are only 6 user reviews as I write this - but it should be better known, so watch it if you have the chance.

Entertaining and talented cast

[tm-sheehan · 7/10 · 16 March 2024]

My Review- Waitress : The Musical My Rating- 7/10 In Cinemas now

It's rare indeed that the composer and lyricist of a successful Broadway musical gets to perform the starring role in their own creation but Sara Bareilles achieves this in Waitress . She wrote this musical with Jesse Nelson in 2015 and based it on the 2007 movie of of the same name written by Adrienne Shelly.

As a lover of the great Broadway musicals like Oklahoma, Sweet Charity, Hello Dolly and Company to name a few I have to say musically Waitress is a very average modern musical but very entertaining.

I doubt we will ever see the fabulous era of the stage musicals of Gershwin, Porter, Berlin ,Rogers and Hammerstein, Jerry Herman , Kander and Ebb or Sondheim ever again except in constant revivals.

This is partly due to the economics of producing a new musical on stage but mainly due to changes in the audience's tastes that pay huge ticket prices to see them.

Sara Bareilles plays Jenna Hunterson a waitress and expert pie maker living in a one horse town in a loveless marriage to a bully of a husband who regards her as his property and source of income.

Jenna works at Joe's Pie Diner alongside her two co workers Becky played beautifully by Charity Dawson and Dawn Pinkett a modern Ado Annie type played by Caitlin Houlahan.

This trio of Waitresses provide the best moments of the show as they support Jenna after she finds out reluctantly that after a rare one night of make up sex she's pregnant to her oafish husband Earl played by Joe Tippett who in real life is engaged to this movies star Sara Bareilles.

Becky describes Earl well in the show when he is displaying his name tattooed across his chest . She says he's so dumb he needs the tattoo in case he forgets his name .

Jenna wants a better life for her baby but gets involved with her gynaecologist Dr Pomatter played by Drew Gehling.

This further complicates her goal to enter and win first prize in a pie baking contest to escape her marriage.

Special mention to a great supporting male performance in Waitress by Christopher Fitzgerald who plays Ogie the awkward very odd but kind suitor of Dawn Pinkett .

He steals the show with his two comedy numbers You're Never Getting Rid of Me and I Love You Like A Table.

He was in the original Broadway cast and it must have stopped the show live.

I must mention this is not a film version of a Broadway musical it's a film of a special revival stage performance with a live audience in a theatre so I think I would have enjoyed it more watching the live performance.

I wish all the great Broadway shows of the past could have been filmed in the quality that Waitress has . Luckily one was preserved the original restoration version of the 1943 groundbreaking Rogers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma can be viewed on YouTube it truly is stunning.

Summing up as a musical average but very entertaining with a very talented cast worth seeing, yes definitely.

Wow!

[lizroy51 · 10/10 · 14 January 2024]

I just finished watching the musical and I was blown away. I don't often say that. The last time was going to see 'Phantom of the Opera' and "Les Miserables' on stage. I watched this by myself in front of my big screen TV and my heaven, the talent, the emotions, the production. The music, the lyrics. I want to watch the show again for all that. Sara Bareilles is amazing and so natural a singer/actor, you feel every emotion she felt all through the story.

The story of just trying to feel a bit of happiness, living with an abuser (they come in many guises) and friendship among disparate personalities comes together in this production. The sets are simple but perfect, the quick seamless changes of scene, too. I laughed and then cried at the end because I saw and felt that the sense of finding true happiness is within everyone's reach and it doesn't necessarily come with being swept away by a perfect love. I mean, you hope for it but it's not the be-all and end-all. And the surprise of someone in your life you never thought would be a big influence for change does reflect real life as I have lived it.

Just wonderful. I executed my own standing ovation in the privacy of my living room. Couldn't help myself.

May We All Be So Lucky

[lunawriter-94436 · 10/10 · 13 January 2024]

An absolute dream. This story is just life in all its beautiful messiness. We've all felt stuck, unworthy, or looking for something more but don't know how to get there. Having been a fan of the movie and the Broadway, to have a pro shot of the production is a dream come true. You feel the heart of the show beating strong during a difficult time when we are all attempting to heal. Every character is brought to life with such vibrancy. It's a story sweet as pie. We're all searching for something more and may we find it as these characters did.

This is a tribute to Adrienne Shelly's film and her memory lives on.

Amazing!

[bea_flatt88 · 10/10 · 20 January 2024]

One of the best movie versions of a Broadway musical that I've seen in a long time. This musical closely follows the original movie and the music is glorious. I've seen it on stage and seeing it as a movie is just as fabulous as in person. I'm so thankful that they made a movie so that I can watch it any time I feel like. The cast works well together, the ensemble is great, and the band is great. If you're looking for a fun, adult themed musical that keeps your toes tapping, your fingers snapping, and your mouth laughing, I say watch this - it's SO worth it! And after you watch it, try not to buy the original Broadway cast soundtrack!

A Masterpiece.

[gracie-77118 · 10/10 · 13 March 2024]

As a massive fan of the musical and specifically the OBC, I was nervous to hear the pro shot would feature Sara and a couple other replacements. I was pleasantly and happily surprised. Sara and Joe's dynamic, particularly because they are actually together in real life, is unique and breathtaking. The cinematography gave respect to the musical and made the baking scenes seem like a music video but it a good way. Sometimes proshots will include awkward angles or cuts and thankfully, Waitress did not. Some things I appreciated specifically were the added Nurse Norma one-liners that made even me who knows the entire script burst out laughing. Sara's voice who normally sounds too pop-like for me was actually perfect and "She Used to be Mine" made me cry. The dialogue overall felt slower than what it would have been on the stage, particularly Jenna and Earl's scenes, but I got used to it as the movie progressed. Overall, this musical is a joy. It's beautifully crafted and deals with real and raw people. I'm so happy it has an excellent pro shot to go along with it.

Very lively and very visually attractive. Sara Bareilles has done a very fine job job writing the music and lyrics.

[lynnrww · 6/10 · 18 December 2023]

Unfortunately, the show tries to be very chipper and upbeat about some very serious subjects. These include domestic violence, extreme male chauvinism, and the outcome of marital infidelity. Since these serious subjects are a major part of the plot of this musical, it would have been much better if these serious social issues had been addressed more clearly and even forcefully. On the other hand, the music and dancing is very nice. The acting is good. The outstanding star of this show is Miss Sara Bareilles, who both wrote all of the music and lyrics, and is excellent in her acting role. She is truly to be commended.

INCREDIBLE!!!!

[w-91503-43531 · 10/10 · 3 April 2024]

This is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. The vocals and music were incredible. The entire cast was amazing. This movie is a must see. Waitress has always been one of my favorite musicals, and I never saw it on Broadway, but this movie makes you feel like you are in the theater. There wasn't a single bad song or moment at all, and you could feel all of the emotions with the characters. There were sadder, deeper, moments in the storyline, but there were still hilarious jokes and baking puns. "She Used to be Mine" was amazing. Those vocals were sooo good!!!!! I loved this movie so much, and I've even seen it three times! Everyone should go see it, this is great!!!!!!

How high is your tolerance for baking related puns?

[salsal_58 · 6/10 · 9 January 2024]

At some point, when they pull out her baking station on stage for the umpteeth time you can't help but roll your eyes and groan. Don't get me wrong, it's a cute musical. The characters are extremely stereotypical, but pleasant. It can be fun to watch them interact.

However how many times can you stand watching the main character explain her feelings in baking terms, while baking? I know many great musicals resolve around a central theme. But it's on the nose. Very on the nose. We're supposed to root for the main character and her dream of escaping a difficult situation through bakery, however at some point her relentless baking and recipes with increasingly unhinged names and ingredients just starts becoming gratingly annoying.

The music isn't particularly great either. It's fine. Nothing that I'd want to listen to on repeat. The biggest problem is that it all sounds like typical Sara Barailles fare, written for her, but sung by other people. Her typical vocal stylings are frequently imitated by other characters, because that's how the songs were written, but it all becomes very samey.

Overall I'd say it's like a pie that's too sweet. The impression is delicious, but you soon realize it's too sweet. You try to persevere, but before long the pie becomes cloying and unpleasant.

Like a lot of musicals, entertaining but, Meh

[paulccarroll3 · 7/10 · 13 February 2024]

Along with writer/director Adrienne Shelly, Andrew Hollander co-wrote "Baby Don't You Cry (The Pie Song)." for the original movie. Which in my opinion is a better song than any of the songs by Sara Bareilles in this Broadway musical version of the story. I was really surprised, and disappointed, that they didn't include it. The songs by Bareilles, like "Sugar,flour,butter" were fine as far as moving the story along, but most of them werent something that you would go home humming, much less singing. Like most musicals, if you took out the songs you would have a 30 minute drama or comedy. A lot of songs in musicals, no matter how well done, are mainly there to pad out a thin story. This story is entertaining and touching, but at nearly 2 and 1 half hours long, its stretched a little too thin by the music. If youre thrilled by repeatedly having people belting out songs at the top of their voices, maybe its not long enough. I enjoyed the original film more than this version. To me, without really great songs, musicals are redundant. I recognize the talent involved in the performances, but you need great songs to make a great musical.

good stage musical

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 10 April 2024]

First, this was a 2007 movie. It was released soon after Adrienne Shelly's brutal murder (which I will always associate with that Law & Order episode). It then became a Broadway musical and we're back to a movie. The obvious next step would be a full blown theatrical musical. Jenna Hunterson (Sara Bareilles) is a small town waitress and pie maker. Her life is turned upside down when she gets pregnant by her no-good boyfriend.

The singing is great. It is fun and cute. It has a heart-felt story. It is missing the pie making visuals. If they turn this into a theatrical musical, they could add that back. I do like the energy from the crowd, but the screen could never replace the real world experience. That will always hold it back in this form.

Jenna. a waitress in a bad marriage, figures out her life.

[TxMike · 1 April 2024]

This musical production is essentially the same story in the 2007 movie "Waitress" with Keri Russel. This 'movie' was filmed in a theater with a live audience, and it has all the looks and feel, including moveable sets, of a real stage play.

Sara Bareilles is 40-something Jenna. She is a waitress and pie-baker at the local pie and short order food place. She is married to a real cad. (Incidentally her real-life husband plays her husband here.) They aren't close in any manner but after a night of drinking and frivolity she finds herself pregnant.

Most of the story involves her interactions with her co-workers, her maternity doctor, and her regular customers. It is her journey to come to grips with who she really is and what she wants out of life. Including, a few months later, for her daughter.

Bareilles, who also produced and wrote songs, is really good in the role. All the singing is good, it seems veterans of the stage were in all the roles. Although I had a career as a Scientist, in graduate school I was in a four week, 28-performance musical so watching this brought back good memories. There is something about a stage play, a musical with live singing, that is more personal and more enjoyable than a slick movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. On DVD from my public library. My wife skipped, she isn't a fan of musicals.