Reviews: 'Waitress' is warm-hearted piece of pie served at Cape Playhouse

DENNIS ― Like someone shrugging on a bulky coat, it took the “Waitress” cast a little while to settle in on opening night at The Cape Playhouse –― but once they did, the fit was perfect.

Sara Bareilles' Tony Award nominated “Waitress” started out at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge and was on Broadway for more than 1,500 performances before heading out on tour.

All of the principals and most of the company in this production are members of the labor union Actors Equity Association, indicating a level of professional experience that usually proves to be ― and does in this case ― a good base.

The pinnacle of the production, for me, was hearing Stephanie Torns ― a member of the original Broadway cast of “Waitress” ― sing the vocally challenging “She Used to Be Mine.”

Here's the setup: Torns’ character, Jenna, has just lost the most valuable thing anyone can have ― hope. She pours her pain into that ballad so powerfully that one hears echoes of the funeral lamentations women have sung for eons. I had goosebumps.

Whether hauntingly poignant or cuttingly funny, the music and lyrics Bareilles wrote for “Waitress” in 2013 have aged well and are just as relevant a decade later.

Wednesday night’s rendering of “She Used to Be Mine” was marred briefly by feedback and some lines in the first act were stumbled over.

But overall, chemistry is terrific between the performers, creating a warm bond that leaves the audience cheering for Jenna and her friends at the “Eat at Joe’s” diner. In one tiny moment that showed the cast's comfort level on stage, a bottle of mustard fell off the table and was retrieved without a second thought.

Based on Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 film “Waitress,” the musical is the story of a pregnant small-town pie-maker who hopes to win a regional pie contest and use the $20,000 prize to break free of her controlling, jealous husband.

But Jenna complicates her life more by having a brief affair with her OB/GYN doctor (John Riddle), who falls for her and the pies she creates.

Reasons to see 'Waitress' at The Cape Playhouse

The dynamic between Jenna and the diner’s owner Joe (John Shuman) is heart-warming and his song, “Take It From An Old Man” is a reminder of how fast the years pass.

Another great couple is Caitlin Houlihan as shy, never-been-kissed Dawn and Ogie, her bespectacled suitor played with over-the-top zest by Nick Cearley. His rendition of “I Love You Like a Table” is hilarious and ridiculous but Cearley is committed to his wacky character and it’s easy to love him as furniture too.

The characters in “Waitress” are familiar, including the tough-talking server Becky (Soara-Joye Ross) and the blustery diner manager Cal (Erik Lochtefeld) – think Mel (the late Vic Tayback) from the TV show “Alice.”

But the theatrical devices are fresh, especially the way Jenna sings each new recipe compiling ingredients to match what’s going on in her life.

“Waitress” plays at 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with several 2 p.m. matinees scheduled. Tickets are $45-$125, available at capeplayhouse.com/waitress-2024/.

Gwenn Friss

'Legally Blonde' winning hearts in Falmouth

FALMOUTH ― We all know her; we all adore her — the fabulous Elle Woods has stormed Harvard Law in a hilarious quest for redemption. The beloved cult classic "Legally Blonde" is bringing the house down at Highfield Theatre with a musical rendition you simply can't miss. Elle might have initially pursued Ivy League glory for all the wrong reasons, but this fierce, pink-wearing fashionista is about to prove everyone wrong. Brace yourself for an epic performance. And hey, if you were a youth watching in 2001, chances are you’ve attempted the iconic bend-and-snap move yourself!

The show, "Legally Blonde: The Musical," draws from Amanda Brown's novel and is helmed by director Caitlin Belcik with Beth Burrier providing musical direction, for Falmouth’s College Light Opera Company.

Here's the scoop: Sorority president Elle Woods has it all — until her world unravels when her boyfriend Warner Huntington III dumps her. Undeterred, she follows him to Harvard Law, intent on winning him back but is met with ridicule. Contemplating a hair color change to solve her problems, she instead finds herself in Paulette Bonafonte’s hair salon chair, receiving a riotously uplifting pep talk. Rather than getting booted from class for being unprepared, this savvy diva aims to secure one of the coveted internships under Professor Callahan.

With a little help from the up-and-coming Emmett Richmond, she lands the gig. The interns are thrust into the high-stakes trial of fitness influencer Brooke Wyndham, accused of murdering her husband. Elle becomes the only one Brooke trusts with her alibi — a revelation too damaging to Brooke’s career to share. Amid mounting pressure to spill the beans, Elle sticks to her guns, winning the case with what others dismiss as “senseless beauty knowledge” — and looking fabulous while doing it.

The best parts of 'Legally Blonde' in Falmouth

Emmalee Anita Diaz truly shone as Elle Woods, leaving an indelible mark with her melodious voice and side-splitting musical numbers. Her standout moment in the song "Legally Blonde" was a treat, especially when paired with her Greek chorus — Sachiko Nicholson, Grace Kelly Kretzmer and Kathryn-Ximena Rojas. This singing and dancing trio, living in Elle's head, literally freezes the rest of the cast, making every appearance riotously funny. They're always Elle's biggest cheerleaders.

Matching Jennifer Coolidge’s humor from the "Legally Blonde" movie is a tall order, but Molly Sturgeon, playing hairdresser Paulette, exceeded my expectations and had me in stitches. Her performance was particularly memorable as she crooned hymns of the "Keltic Moon," lamenting her love life and dream of marrying an Irish man.

Worth noting: The show features two real dogs, and it's pure cuteness overload. Elle’s dog Bruiser Woods, donned in a pink sweater and a blinged-out diamond collar marked with a huge 'B,' is played by Beanpot. Paulette’s dog Rufus, portrayed by Oscar the Beagle, might just be a seasoned pro — or a naturally talented pup — as he let out a perfectly timed bark.

Tickets are sold out for the remaining "Legally Blonde" shows. "A Little Night Music" is the final production this season at College Light Opera Company, 58 Highfields Drive, Falmouth with shows Tuesday, Aug. 13, through Saturday, Aug. 17, including matinees on Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets are $44.

The College Light Opera Company's final Second Stage Orchestra Concert is at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at Lucas Hall, West Falmouth Campus, 54 Chapoquoit Road, Falmouth.

Ambermae Rivard

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Reviews: Our critics check in on new summer shows