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TBTS’s ‘Waitress’ A Sweet, Satisfying Treat

[CREDIT: Mark Turek] Dakota Mackey-McGee and Christopher deProphetis in Theater By The Sea's production of 'Waitress."
[CREDIT: Mark Turek] Dakota Mackey-McGee and Christopher deProphetis in Theater By The Sea’s production of ‘Waitress.”
WAKEFIELD, RI — The musical “Waitress,” now being performed at Theatre by the Sea, coasts along with a breezy charm. 

Dakota Mackey-McGee gives a winning performance as Jenna, a woman trapped in a marriage to an emotionally abusive man, Earl (well-played by James Channing). She is working in a dead end job at a small country diner. 

Jenna’s life is complicated by the fact that she is pregnant. She winds up in a romance with her handsome gynecologist Dr. Pomatter (Christopher deProphetis), who is married.

Fortunately, Jenna is a master at baking pies and dreams of winning a pie baking contest which comes with a huge financial reward – $20,000.

Kevin McGlynn plays Joe, one of the diner’s regular customers, a peculiar man with a big heart.

Bill Goldstein’s Cal is the diner’s gruff manager. 

[CREDIT: Mark Turek] Anny Jules, Dakota Mackey-McGee, and Emelie Latzer in Theater By The Sea's production of 'Waitress."
[CREDIT: Mark Turek] Anny Jules, Dakota Mackey-McGee, and Emelie Latzer in Theater By The Sea’s production of ‘Waitress.”
“Waitress” began as a motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly. It was adapted for the stage by Jessie Nelson. Grammy-award nominee Sara Bareilles wrote the songs and made her Broadway acting debut in 2017 playing Jenna.

Director Kevin P. Hill handles the shift from bawdy comedy to dark drama quite well. The acting ensemble’s members all have plenty of chances to shine. 

Mackey-McGee makes for a sympathetic heroine and she and deProphetis have an appealing chemistry in their scenes together. Their duet on the romantic ballad “You Matter to Me” is very affecting. After years of being treated badly, Jenna has finally found a man who truly respects and loves her.

Mackey-McGee gave a spellbinding vocal on “She Used to Be Mine” – a hymn to Jenna’s lost childhood. 

Their bond carries them through to the end, which is sweet and will leave you feeling like there is hope in the world.

Emelie Latzer is a blast as Jenna’s ditzy friend Dawn, as is Anny Jules as the wisecracking Becky. Jules gets the spotlight on “I Didn’t Plan It” – a song about the unexpected choices we make in life.

Matt DaSilva gave an inspired comic performance as Ogie, Dawn’s eccentric husband-to be. Ogie is a magician who also enjoys historical re-enactments, leading to one of the funniest moments in the show. 

 “Waitress” is particularly effective at detailing the horror of domestic abuse, especially in the scenes between Earl and Jenna. Earl is a prototypical narcissist, a deeply insecure man with no regard for anyone’s feelings except his own. He stomps on a guitar out of pure frustration and steals the money Jenna has been saving for the pie contest.

[CREDIT: Mark Turek] Anny Jules, Dakota Mackey-McGee, and Emelie Latzer in Theater By The Sea's production of 'Waitress."
[CREDIT: Mark Turek] Anny Jules, Dakota Mackey-McGee, and Emelie Latzer in Theater By The Sea’s production of ‘Waitress.”
But mostly, the show has a light-hearted tone. Jenna, Dawn, and Becky all have a fun camaraderie as they endure life’s challenges. Their bond carries them through to the end, which is sweet and will leave you feeling like there is hope in the world.

Like one of Jenna’s pies, “Waitress” will leave you with a sweet and satisfied feeling and the desire to come back for more.

Waitress will be presented through July 19. Theatre by the Sea is located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield. Tickets are $65 – $91 for all performances (additional fees may apply). There will be no performance on July 4. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm and performance days from 11:00 am until curtain, (performance Sundays 12 noon until curtain), online 24-hours-a-day at www.theatrebythesea.com and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 782-TKTS (8587).

Joe Siegel
Author: Joe Siegel

Joe Siegel is a regular contributing writer for WarwickPost.com. His reporting has appeared in The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and EDGE.

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