{"id":31900,"date":"2016-09-05T22:02:58","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T04:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=31900"},"modified":"2016-09-05T22:06:04","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T04:06:04","slug":"quirky-waitress-defies-odds-on-broadway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/quirky-waitress-defies-odds-on-broadway\/","title":{"rendered":"Quirky \u2018Waitress\u2019 defies odds on Broadway"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>By ALAN SMASON, Theatre Critic, WYES-TV (\u201c<em>Steppin\u2019 Out<\/em>\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>By all things reasonable, <em>Waitress<\/em>, the Broadway musical currently serving its fare at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York, should have never made it to Broadway. It is a story of improbabilities.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31901\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31901\" class=\"wp-image-31901 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies-e1473129745593-300x212.jpeg\" alt=\"Waitress MUSICALORIGINAL BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE 256 W. 47TH ST. WAITRESS - CAST  Jessie Mueller Jessie Mueller as Jenna  Keala Settle Keala Settle as Becky  Kimiko Glenn Kimiko Glenn as Dawn  Drew Gehling Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter  Nick Cordero Nick Cordero as Earl  Dakin Matthews Dakin Matthews as Joe  Eric Anderson Eric Anderson as Cal  Christopher Fitzgerald Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Nurse Norma  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Ensemble  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Ensemble  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Ensemble  Aisha Jackson Aisha Jackson as Ensemble  Claire Keane Claire Keane as Lulu  McKenna Keane McKenna Keane as Lulu  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ensemble  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Ensemble  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Ensemble  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried Swing  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Jenna (Understudy)  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Dawn (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Jenna (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Dawn (Understudy)  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Becky (Understudy)  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Becky (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Earl (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Ogie (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Earl (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Joe (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Cal (Understudy)  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ogie (Understudy)  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Cal (Understudy) WAITRESS - MUSIC CREDITS  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Musical Director  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Music Supervisor  Adam Michael Kaufman Adam Michael Kaufman Associate Music Supervisor  John Miller John Miller Music Coordinator  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallona\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies-e1473129745593-300x212.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies-e1473129745593-1024x725.jpeg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/212;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31901\" class=\"wp-image-31901 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies-e1473129745593-300x212.jpeg\" alt=\"Waitress MUSICALORIGINAL BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE 256 W. 47TH ST. WAITRESS - CAST  Jessie Mueller Jessie Mueller as Jenna  Keala Settle Keala Settle as Becky  Kimiko Glenn Kimiko Glenn as Dawn  Drew Gehling Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter  Nick Cordero Nick Cordero as Earl  Dakin Matthews Dakin Matthews as Joe  Eric Anderson Eric Anderson as Cal  Christopher Fitzgerald Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Nurse Norma  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Ensemble  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Ensemble  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Ensemble  Aisha Jackson Aisha Jackson as Ensemble  Claire Keane Claire Keane as Lulu  McKenna Keane McKenna Keane as Lulu  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ensemble  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Ensemble  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Ensemble  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried Swing  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Jenna (Understudy)  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Dawn (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Jenna (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Dawn (Understudy)  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Becky (Understudy)  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Becky (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Earl (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Ogie (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Earl (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Joe (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Cal (Understudy)  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ogie (Understudy)  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Cal (Understudy) WAITRESS - MUSIC CREDITS  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Musical Director  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Music Supervisor  Adam Michael Kaufman Adam Michael Kaufman Associate Music Supervisor  John Miller John Miller Music Coordinator  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallona\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies-e1473129745593-300x212.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Jenna_pies-e1473129745593-1024x725.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31901\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessie Mueller, center, stars a Jenna in &#8220;Waitress,&#8221; based on the movie written and directed by Adrienne Shelly. (Photo by Joan Marcus)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The musical was based on an independent film directed by Adrienne Shelly, a striking actress, wife and young mother, who had achieved some limited success in film and TV roles. Shelly, who was of Russian-Jewish extraction (born Adrienne Levine) wrote, directed and was a featured performer of the film of the same title about an abused, unhappy and pregnant waitress who dreams of breaking free from her abusive and domineering husband by doing the one thing her mother had taught her to do: bake pies.<\/p>\n<p>Shelly was working on the film in post-production, when she became the tragic murder victim of an itinerant workman she caught robbing her. Her grieving husband worked for several months after her death to edit and finish the film, which was released in 2007.<\/p>\n<p>That the film saw the light of day or that its $22 million payday at the box office would interest producers into turning the vehicle into a stage musical defies conventional expectations. Yet, the American Repertory Theater under the direction of Diane Paulus (\u201cHair\u201d and \u201cPippin\u201d revivals) and lead producers Barry and Fran Wessler (\u201cChicago\u201d revival) and Norton and Elayne Herrick (\u201cPippin\u201d revival) did just that.<\/p>\n<p>Also, improbably, the team elected to secure the musical services of Sara Bareilles, a popular West Coast composer and five-time Grammy nominee, who had only recently moved to New York, but whose track record of writing a Broadway score \u2013much less a successful one \u2013 was nil.<\/p>\n<p>Jessie Nelson, a scriptwriter who also had no previous Broadway experience was assigned the task of writing the book. Nelson had written and produced \u201cI Am Sam\u201d in 2001 and written, directed and produced \u201c<em>Corrina, Corrina<\/em>\u201d in 1994. She had also directed last year\u2019s holiday film \u201c<em>Love the Coopers<\/em>,\u201d which featured a large ensemble cast.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31902\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31902\" class=\"wp-image-31902 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams-e1473129894953-300x223.jpeg\" alt=\"WAITRESS MUSICAL ORIGINAL BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE 256 W. 47TH ST. Jessie Mueller  Jenna  Nick Cordero  Earl  Christopher Fitzgerald  Ogie  Keala Settle  Becky  Eric Anderson  Cal  Charity Angel Dawson  Ensemble  Thay Floyd  Ensemble  Drew Gehling  Dr. Pomatter  Kimiko Glenn  Broadway debutDawn  Molly Hager  Broadway debut Ensemble  Aisha Jackson  Ensemble  Dakin Matthews  Joe  Jeremy Morse  Broadway debutEnsemble  Ragan Pharris  Broadway debutEnsemble  Stephanie Torns  Ensemble  Ryan Vasquez  Ensemble\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams-e1473129894953-300x223.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams-e1473129894953-1024x762.jpeg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/223;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31902\" class=\"wp-image-31902 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams-e1473129894953-300x223.jpeg\" alt=\"WAITRESS MUSICAL ORIGINAL BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE 256 W. 47TH ST. Jessie Mueller  Jenna  Nick Cordero  Earl  Christopher Fitzgerald  Ogie  Keala Settle  Becky  Eric Anderson  Cal  Charity Angel Dawson  Ensemble  Thay Floyd  Ensemble  Drew Gehling  Dr. Pomatter  Kimiko Glenn  Broadway debutDawn  Molly Hager  Broadway debut Ensemble  Aisha Jackson  Ensemble  Dakin Matthews  Joe  Jeremy Morse  Broadway debutEnsemble  Ragan Pharris  Broadway debutEnsemble  Stephanie Torns  Ensemble  Ryan Vasquez  Ensemble\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams-e1473129894953-300x223.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Waitress_flourdreams-e1473129894953-1024x762.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31902\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Becky (Keala Settle), Jenna (Jessie Mueller) and Dawn (original co-star Kimiko Glenn) in the kitchen. (Photo by Joan Marcus)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Unlikely and improbably, Jessie Mueller, who had just won a Tony Award for her role as Carole King in <em>Beautiful<\/em> was announced last year as attaching herself as the star of the project.<\/p>\n<p>Taken separately, any slight deviation from the film being turned into a musical could have easily spoiled its chances of making it big on Broadway. Yet, miraculously, like one of the slices of those farcically named pies hawked by the pregnant Jenna and her two fellow waitresses, Becky (Keala Settle) and Dawn (currently Jenna Ushkowitz, but in the past played by Kimiko Glenn), it improbably succeeds.<\/p>\n<p>The musical achieves an emotional arc wherein Mueller\u2019s character learns to accept her pregnancy and to find the inner strength at first to find love outside of her marriage and, later, to affect a means to escape from the self-imposed prison she has fashioned at home.<\/p>\n<p>Into the picture comes Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling), her obstetrician-gynecologist, who falls for her pies (\u201cIt Only Takes a Taste\u201d) and in one of the more inappropriate and unethical decisions in medical history becomes involved with his patient (\u201cBad Idea\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, her co-workers find their own challenges in establishing relationships. Becky is in a loveless marriage of convenience, caring for an impotent paraplegic (\u201cI Didn\u2019t Plan It\u201d), while Dawn matches wits with Ogie (Christopher Fitzgerald), an overzealous suitor who won\u2019t take no for an answer (\u201cNever Ever Getting Rid of Me\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Jenna\u2019s overbearing spouse Earl (Nick Cordero) is a lazy, loud and brutish fellow who uses her for a meal ticket and as a sexual object. The pregnancy she so dreads (\u201cThe Negative\u201d) in Act One becomes a chance for self-reliance (\u201cShe Used to Be Mine\u201d) and redemption (\u201cEverything Changes\u201d) in Act Two.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31903\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31903\" class=\"wp-image-31903 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller-e1473130313668-300x204.jpeg\" alt=\"Waitress MUSICALORIGINAL BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE 256 W. 47TH ST. WAITRESS - CAST  Jessie Mueller Jessie Mueller as Jenna  Keala Settle Keala Settle as Becky  Kimiko Glenn Kimiko Glenn as Dawn  Drew Gehling Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter  Nick Cordero Nick Cordero as Earl  Dakin Matthews Dakin Matthews as Joe  Eric Anderson Eric Anderson as Cal  Christopher Fitzgerald Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Nurse Norma  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Ensemble  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Ensemble  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Ensemble  Aisha Jackson Aisha Jackson as Ensemble  Claire Keane Claire Keane as Lulu  McKenna Keane McKenna Keane as Lulu  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ensemble  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Ensemble  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Ensemble  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried Swing  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Jenna (Understudy)  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Dawn (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Jenna (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Dawn (Understudy)  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Becky (Understudy)  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Becky (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Earl (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Ogie (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Earl (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Joe (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Cal (Understudy)  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ogie (Understudy)  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Cal (Understudy) WAITRESS - MUSIC CREDITS  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Musical Director  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Music Supervisor  Adam Michael Kaufman Adam Michael Kaufman Associate Music Supervisor  John Miller John Miller Music Coordinator  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallona\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller-e1473130313668-300x204.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller-e1473130313668-1024x695.jpeg 1024w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/204;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31903\" class=\"wp-image-31903 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller-e1473130313668-300x204.jpeg\" alt=\"Waitress MUSICALORIGINAL BROOKS ATKINSON THEATRE 256 W. 47TH ST. WAITRESS - CAST  Jessie Mueller Jessie Mueller as Jenna  Keala Settle Keala Settle as Becky  Kimiko Glenn Kimiko Glenn as Dawn  Drew Gehling Drew Gehling as Dr. Pomatter  Nick Cordero Nick Cordero as Earl  Dakin Matthews Dakin Matthews as Joe  Eric Anderson Eric Anderson as Cal  Christopher Fitzgerald Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Nurse Norma  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Ensemble  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Ensemble  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Ensemble  Aisha Jackson Aisha Jackson as Ensemble  Claire Keane Claire Keane as Lulu  McKenna Keane McKenna Keane as Lulu  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ensemble  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Ensemble  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Ensemble  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried Swing  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris Swing  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Jenna (Understudy)  Ragan Pharris Ragan Pharris as Dawn (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Jenna (Understudy)  Stephanie Torns Stephanie Torns as Dawn (Understudy)  Charity Angel Dawson Charity Ang\u00e9l Dawson as Becky (Understudy)  Molly Hager Molly Hager as Becky (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Earl (Understudy)  Henry Gottfried Henry Gottfried as Ogie (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Dr. Pomatter (Understudy)  Ryan Vasquez Ryan Vasquez as Earl (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Joe (Understudy)  Max Kumangai Max Kumangai as Cal (Understudy)  Jeremy Morse Jeremy Morse as Ogie (Understudy)  Thay Floyd Thay Floyd as Cal (Understudy) WAITRESS - MUSIC CREDITS  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Musical Director  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallonardo Music Supervisor  Adam Michael Kaufman Adam Michael Kaufman Associate Music Supervisor  John Miller John Miller Music Coordinator  Person Placeholder Nadia DiGiallona\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller-e1473130313668-300x204.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Gehling_Mueller-e1473130313668-1024x695.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-31903\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Pomatter (Drew Gehling) and Jessie Mueller as doctor and pregnant patient. (Photo by Joan Marcus)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lorin Latarro\u2019s choreography is conventional and straight forward, much like the simple characters we follow. Perhaps, the best part of the movement and dancing may be the way the various pies are displayed throughout the production (\u201cOpening Up\u201d and \u201cWhat Baking Can Do\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Crusty short order cook Cal (Eric Anderson) provides comic relief, especially in his tense business relationship with Becky, who always seems to have the upper hand with put downs. Joe (Dakin Matthews) acts as the wise old man, who sees Jenna struggle to make it in a challenging world and who devises a way for her to bake her way out of the status quo. His one song, \u201cTake It From an Old Man\u201d is a throwback to sweet classics like Arvide Abernathy\u2019s \u201cMore I Cannot Wish You\u201d from <em>Guys and Dolls<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, Bareilles\u2019 music orchestrated with her own band is surprisingly multi-faceted. Her capacity for comedy shines in a scene in a doctor\u2019s waiting room \u201cClub Knocked Up\u201d and in \u201cI Love You Like a Table,\u201d a song in which Ogie pronounces his love for his bride.<\/p>\n<p>Even an instrumental piece titled \u201cThe Contraction Ballet\u201d packs a wallop in Act II as the denouement of the entire production. Bareilles proves that she possesses all the tools demanded of a great Broadway composer.<\/p>\n<p>Improbable as <em>Waitress<\/em> is, it serves Broadway audiences a healthy heaping of great singing with a dollop of dancing on top and a bit of humor on the side.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWaitress\u201d continues at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256th W. 47th Street in New York City<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top: 5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/noscript><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"Tumblr\",\"Email\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"medium\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Quirky%20%E2%80%98Waitress%E2%80%99%20defies%20odds%20on%20Broadway\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7122],"tags":[8068,8069,8070,8792,8790,8788],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31900"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31900"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31905,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31900\/revisions\/31905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}