Review: WAITRESS at Times Union Performing Arts Center

"Sugar. Butter. Flour" Waitress! Waitress has arrived at the Times Union and is blowing audiences away. The musical, based on Adrienne Shelley's movie of the same name, follows Jenna, a Waitress at a small diner who is stuck in a loveless marriage. Jenna finds herself pregnant and is convinced it is time to chase her own dreams and build a better life for her and her unborn child. First, she must save enough money Waitressing at the diner. Jenna meets her doctor, Dr. Pomatter, and things become very complicated. Waitress is filled with laughter, emotion, heartbreak, and pies!

Jenna (Christine Dwyer) and her friends Becky (Maiesha McQueen) and Dawn (Ephie Aardema) are everything you want to see in a friendship. They all had great chemistry together. The audience could feel the love between the three characters. "The Negative" was very funny with these three. A very intimate moment had audiences laughing out loud. Their number "A Soft Place to Land" was so sweet and tender. They each were able to stand alone, as well. Aardema in "When He Sees Me" was so funny, but her voice was also great! She was so honest and hilarious, I am sure a lot of audience members could relate to her in this piece. McQueen in her number "I Didn't Plan It" was so sassy and lively, not to mention her absolutely powerful voice! Lastly, Dwyer's "She Used to Be Mine" was breathtaking. As a fan of the show for a few years, I've listened to the cast album numerous times. Seeing this number performed live brought tears to my eyes. Dwyer is so emotional and heartbreaking, the audience was blown away by her.

Dr. Pomatter, performed by Steven Good, was adorable! He was so quirky and awkward; the audience could not help but love him! His quirkiness was really prominent in "It Only Takes a Taste" as he stumbles over what he wants to convey to Jenna. You just look at him and can't help but go "aww!" Good's performance of "You Matter To Me" was so endearing and sweet. Everyone would love to hear those words said to them, and it was beautiful to see that moment between the two characters.

Jacksonville fell in love with Ogie, performed by Jeremy Morse. Every single scene Morse was in audiences could not help but burst out laughing. His physical timing, his humor, it was all absolutely amazing and hysterical!

The entire ensemble was unbelievable! The details performed throughout the show caught me by surprise. I realized how each character in the diner is dancing in their seat or singing along to the songs. I loved seeing how much work was put into making this show the absolute best it could be to honor Adrienne Shelly.

Waitress is absolutely phenomenal in every way! Go see it now through March 17!