Sweet and tart: 'Waitress' opens Music Theatre Wichita's season
An everywoman story of a waitress who finds escape in pie-making provides strong singing, plentiful comedy, and dark reminders of the abuses many women face.
Years ago, the Wichita Eagle ran a human-interest story subjectively identifying and interviewing the “Best Waitress in Wichita.” The article’s accompanying photos revealed a jolly-looking lady confidently holding in one hand her ticket order pad and in the other a pencil in desperate need of sharpening. She was poised and ready to record the orders of her diners: hungry patrons holding brown plastic menu folders — before the days of tablets and QR codes.
The only text I remember from the article was our jolly-looking lady sharing her secret to success: “I smile them in, and then I smile them out.”
Music Theatre Wichita’s season opener “Waitress,” with book by Jessie Nelson and music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, employs the same strategy. It smiles us in, and then it smiles us out. We enjoy loud guffaws during the two-and-a-half hours we spend in Joe’s Diner, the fictional pie shop that is the main setting for “Waitress.” But be advised: The kinds of smiles offered up in “Waitress” are those experienced from a slice of Key lime pie — sweet, tart, with a bitter aftertaste.
In the story, Jenna, a waitress and first-rate pie baker, faces the challenge of coping in a loveless, abusive relationship with her husband Earl, a monster of a person whose proudest achievement is having his name tattooed on his chest in an “important” font. Jenna’s situation turns grimmer when she discovers she is pregnant. Her daily survival rests in the belief that baking pies is her only talent — and her only escape. Along the way, she is supported by her fellow waitresses, a doctor who takes the doctor/patient relationship to a different level, and a guardian angel revealed in the play’s dénouement.
Director/choreographer Brian Marcum and associate choreographer Caleb Dicke have served up a delicious piece of theater. The stagings of the making of each of Jenna’s pies are graceful ballets. The “pie pas de deux” between Jenna and Dr. Pomatter upon their first meeting is particularly charming and inventive. Marcum unfolds the entire story with rhythmic clarity.
The material is a showcase for many talents, and the cast does not disappoint.
The powerful voice of Kennedy Caughell, as Jenna, well suits the role, particularly with her stunning eleven o’clock number, “She Used to be Mine,” not only vocally fine but hitting every emotional note. Jenna’s fellow waitresses provide ample comedic support through their romantic encounters. Becky, a wisecracking, no-nonsense lady wonderfully played by Injoy Fountain, hooks up with the diner’s short-order cook Cal, played with finesse by John Keckeisen. Dawn, a naïve, gawky girl played by Maggie Spicer Brown, finds equally gawky Ogie, played by Julian Ibarra, through a dating service. Brown and Ibarra mine every ounce of comedy in their roles. Collectively, Fountain, Keckeisen, Brown, and Ibarra provide show-stopping moments.
The show’s act one closer “Bad Idea,” performed by Jenna and Dr. Pomatter, a charismatic Ben Fankhauser, is musical theater gymnastics at its best. In a change of tone, Fankhauser’s neurotic Dr. Pomatter finds his center in Act 2's poignant “You Matter to Me.”
The show’s Greek chorus, the diner’s namesake Joe, is deftly played by Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, and Steve Hitchcock’s Earl is haunting. Both actors flesh out honest characters in their limited stage time. In her stage debut, youngster Daisy Brittain (Lulu) gives one of the most charming performances you’ll see this season.
The scenic design by J Branson supports the show’s action rather than interfering in the production. The set moves are choreography in themselves. Abby Stroot’s costumes — depicting everyday clothing — provide the character details.
Opening night included imbalances between orchestra and singers and a few moments when a song was so loud it was hard to hear. But those could be opening-night glitches.
The bitter aftertaste of seeing the sweet and tart “Waitress” is its reminder that Jenna’s story could be that of any woman: the nurse who expertly cares for us in the doctor’s office, the salesclerk who makes sure we get the right fit, the teacher who helps us understand algebra. “Waitress” could have been titled “Everywoman.” That’s what makes it universal. And provoking. And hopefully awakens our emotional taste buds, calling on us to refuse to tolerate physical and emotional violence.
With respect to our jolly Wichita waitress of 50 years ago, today there is a new “Best in Wichita”: MTW’s production of “Waitress.”
The Details
Music Theatre Wichita presents “Waitress”
June 18-22 at Century II Performing Arts Center, 225 W. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
The run time is 2.5 hours. ASL will be provided at the 2 p.m. show on Saturday, June 21.
Correction: This review was updated on June 20, 2025, to correct the spelling of two of the actors' names. We regret the errors. Learn more about our corrections policy.
Formerly the chairman of the Butler Community College Theatre Department, Bob Peterson is an actor, director, and playwright.
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