As Sweet As Pie

Waitress

One of the jewels of the 2016 Broadway season, this beautifully uplifting and cathartic musical is as sweet as pie. It’s adapted from the popular 2007 film that starred Keri Russell. What makes this show especially enjoyable is the resplendent, often poetic lyrics and music by Sara Bareilles. Her score is unusually beautiful and haunting, sometimes even humorous. The songs frequently touch hidden emotions that have been buried deep inside. The late Adrienne Shelly’s film screenplay has been faithfully adapted for the stage by Jessie Nelson and makes each character especially unique and memorable.

A haunting, almost ethereal refrain of “Sugar…butter…flour…” wafts through the air at the top of the show and often repeats throughout the production. It’s the comforting mantra that Jenna, the main character of the story, uses to inspire her baking and to retreat into her happy place. That place is the warm kitchen where she recalls, as a child, enjoying baking with her late, loving mother (portrayed with affection by Sophie Grimm). There Jenna’s mom gently protected her young daughter from an abusive father, while teaching the youngster a love for creative baking. Like mother like daughter, Jenna is also now stuck in an unhappy, abusive marriage. Trapped in a small town with Earl, her violent and self-centered husband, Jenna has lost any hope for a happy life.

Unexpectedly, however, a shining ray of light offers Jenna a chance for a bit of joy. Jenna’s a gifted waitress and very talented pastry chef at Joe’s Pie Diner. She’s known by her devoted customers for her kindness, empathy and her delicious and unusually named pies. Jenna’s only friends are her two fellow waitresses, Becky and Dawn. Their boss, Chef Cal, is an obnoxious good-ol’ boy who manages the diner, an establishment in which the owner, curmudgeonly old Joe, is a regular customer. He enjoys bantering with Jenna and refuses to be waited on by anyone else. Fellow waitress Becky is a passionate, middle-aged woman who loves and cares for her sickly, bedridden husband; and Dawn is a naive and nerdy waitress who’s been toying with the idea of looking for Mr. Right through online dating.

Jenna discovers that she’s unexpectedly pregnant and the thought of bringing a child into an abusive relationship is unthinkable. When she visits her clinic, Jenna’s surprised to find that her longtime female family physician has retired. In her place Jenna meets a geeky, but boyishly handsome and likable young OB/GYN named Doctor Jim. Before Jenna knows what’s happening, she and Dr. Pomatter, who is also married, have fallen passionately for each other and begun carrying on an illicit affair. In another ray of hope, Jenna learns that there’s going to be a local pie-baking contest, whose grand prize could give Jenna the financial independence to leave her husband and open up her own pie shop.

In the leading, titular role of this musical, Paramount audiences will be treated to the magnificent work of Michelle Lauto as Jenna. This arresting, beautiful young actress has dazzled Chicago audiences in so many shows, like EVITA at Drury Lane, GREASE and RAGTIME at the Marriott and IN THE HEIGHTS and SUNSET BOULEVARD at Porchlight. Ms. Lauto is charismatic and possesses a clear, powerful voice that’s especially well-suited for the songs of Sara Bareilles. Ms. Lauto’s heartfelt rendition of the show’s power ballad, “She Used to Be Mine,” is one of the production’s musical highlights. Michelle delivers an absolutely honest, heartrending portrayal of a young woman who survives by reimagining her world through the creation of delicious and unusual pies.

Michelle Lauto is matched by a gifted cast company of superb supporting actors. Teressa LaGamba, who was recently seen at Writers Theatre in NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, is excellent as the sassy and sexy waitress, Becky. A comic standout, Ms. LaGamba tears up the stage with her Act II number, “I Didn’t Plan It.” As Dawn, the lovable, mousy younger waitress, who pursues a love match through social media, Kelly Felthous is terrific. Seen at Paramount as Sally Bowles in CABARET, Kelly is a natural born comedian, especially hilarious in her show-stopping number, “When He Sees Me.” She’s beautifully matched with another Chicago comic favorite, Jackson Evans (THE FULL MONTY, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST). This finely-skilled actor practically steals the show as Ogie, Dawn’s frenetic blind date (through March 16; Nik Kmiecik steps into the role March 19-30). Quite an eccentric fellow, Ogie composes odd poetry, is an Irish clog dancer and, like Dawn, enjoys participating in American Revolutionary War reenactments. Jackson’s gut-busting musical numbers include “You’ll Never Get Rid of Me” and the bizarre “I Love You Like a Table.”

While it’s the women who dominate this musical, playing 

Dr. Jim Pomatter is affable Chicago actor, David Moreland (AMERICAN PSYCHO, ROCK OF AGES). He is truly superb in this role. Mr. Moreland plays this likable, goofy, easy-going and often tongue-tied young man who gives the musical many of its comic moments. Dr. Jim is easily charmed by and understandably smitten with Jenna, his pretty new patient, and David makes the audience truly feel his character’s deeply felt affection. Mr. Moreland stands out musically in such duets with Ms. Lauto as “It Only Takes a Taste,” “Bad Idea” and the lovely “You Matter to Me.”

 As Earl, Jenna’s moody, temperamental and abusive husband, Ian Paul Custer (an ensemble member at American Blues Theater and last seen at Paramount in BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROL KING MUSICAL) creates the perfect amount of depravity. To avoid making him a one-note villain, Custer shares the touching ballad with Ms. Lauto entitled “You Will Still Be Mine.” Cal, the manager and head chef of the diner, is played with broad humor by Chicago favorite, Jonah D. Winston (FROZEN); and Chicago veteran actor Ron E. Rains (remembered from Paramount’s BILLY ELLIOT and CABARET) is funny and endearing as Old Joe, the crusty, quarrelsome owner of Joe’s Diner and Pie Shop. His onstage relationship with Michelle Lauto is both touchingly affectionate and funny. The musical’s talented ensemble, which features, among many others, Sophie Grimm as the droll and hilarious Nurse Norma, all skillfully support the show with their vocal and choreographic artistry.

This Tony nominated musical by Sara Bareilles, expertly Directed and Choreographed by Katie Spelman (THE NOTEBOOK, THE GREAT COMET OF 1812) is affectionately based upon the beloved film of the same name. Musically Directed and Conducted by Celia Villacres, Paramount’s production is both heartbreaking and humorous. It features a lush score that bathes the audience in warm memories, gentle plot twists and unexpected moments of comedy. Featuring a stellar cast and a versatile and detailed Scenic Design by Scott Davis, this confection of a musical is as satisfying and sweet as one of Jenna’s pies, made from sugar…butter…flour…and baked with lots of love.

 Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented February 12-March 30 by Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the Paramount Theatre box office, by calling 630-896-6666 or by visiting www.paramountaurora.com.