MALINDA (Jenna), Ashley D. Nguyen (Dawn), and Allison Blackwell (Becky) in “Waitress” at Olney Theatre Center. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
“Sugar, butter, flour” and many other delectable ingredients comprise the sensational regional premiere of “Waitress” at Olney Theatre Center. This Tony-nominated musical, featuring an upbeat score by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles, ran on Broadway from 2016-2020. Olney Theatre Center is making history as the first organization in the area to produce this show, and this debut production is a triumph with director and choreographer, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, at the helm.
…sensational regional premiere…a heavenly slice of musical theater.
“Waitress” revolves around Jenna (MALINDA), a waitress and gifted pie maker, who is trapped in her small town and is unhappily married to her abusive husband, Earl (Greg Twomey). Jenna works at Joe’s Pie Diner with her friends and fellow waitresses, Becky (Allison Blackwell) and Dawn (Ashley D. Nguyen). When Jenna discovers that she is pregnant with Earl’s baby, she must make the choice between staying in her miserable marriage or pursuing her dreams of an escape. Along the way, a romance blossoms with her gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter (David Socolar) while Jenna is also navigating adventurous shifts at the diner under the management of its chef and manager, Cal (Ethan Watermeier).
MALINDA gave a masterful performance as Jenna. She demonstrated poignant acting and impeccable vocals, particularly in her heart-wrenching solo, “She Used to Be Mine.” Her presentation grippingly expressed Jenna’s emotional journey, from the anguish in her tumultuous marriage to her tenderness and love in motherhood. Twomey chillingly depicted Earl’s menacing demeanor, and his talent as a singer shone through in “You Will Still Be Mine.” As Dr. Pomatter, Socolar played the character with pleasant humor and sincerity, and his warm singing voice blended beautifully with MALINDA’s in their duet, “You Matter to Me.” Blackwell exhibited rich, soulful vocals as Becky, and Nguyen was bubbly and enthusiastic as Dawn. Watermeier was humorously bossy as Cal, and his interactions with MALINDA, Blackwell, and Nguyen were comedically brilliant. Bobby Smith (as pie shop owner, Joe) and Sam C. Jones (as Dawn’s love interest, Ogie) also delivered standout performances. Smith was adorable and engaging in his portrayal of Joe, and his rendition of “Take It From An Old Man” was heartwarming. Jones’ hilarious performance as Ogie was highlighted by his side-splitting physical comedy and spectacular delivery.
Set in the American South, “Waitress” requires the use of consistent accents, and dialect coach, Lynn Watson, did an excellent job of training the cast. All of the performers maintained steady Southern accents throughout the entire play while speaking and singing. Chen-Wei Liao’s vivid set design was artistically stunning, featuring a vibrant blue sky and luminous moon. The diner setting was well-represented with authentic booths and a full kitchen, accented by tile flooring. Christopher Youstra’s outstanding musical direction was reflected in the cast’s resounding harmonies, as well as the unwavering blend of the show’s seven-piece live band.
Olney Theatre Center’s scrumptious production of “Waitress” truly is a heavenly slice of musical theater. This theatrical experience will have audiences humming the tunes long after the show, and the rich storyline will both delight and tug at the heartstrings. Theatergoers should take full advantage of this rare chance to experience this play live, and missing this opportunity would be a “Bad Idea.”
Running Time: Approximately two hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Advisory: If this were a film, it would be rated PG-13 for sexual and mature content.
“Waitress” has been EXTENDED through April 6, 2025 at Olney Theatre Center (Roberts Mainstage), 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832. Performances are Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. (with additional 1:30 p.m. matinees on February 19 and March 19), Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (with an additional 1:30 p.m. matinee on Friday, April 4), Saturdays at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. (with additional 7:00 p.m. performances on March 2, 16, 23, and 30). There is no performance on Wednesday, April 2. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at 301-924-3400 or go in person Wednesday-Sunday 12 – 6 p.m., or go online.
