Waitress Previews- Page 9

[MaiaJ]

Posted: 4/7/16 at 8:05am

Valentina3 said: "The cast album buzz resurfaced after Sara teased it on twitter this morning - 

 

https://twitter.com/SaraBareilles/status/717446041033961473 "

 

 

Someone at stage door (Kimiko, I think) said they thought they were recording it in May.

 

[TFMH18]

Posted: 4/7/16 at 9:45am

I saw this last night and loved it so, absolutely adored it. It is earnest. It doesn't try to be anything it is not. There is no irony, no winking to the audience or snide acknowledgment of how smart it is, like so many shows I can think of currently running. In fact, like this season's Bright Star, it is refreshing in its straightforward sweetness (no pun intended). What you see is what you get, and I absolutely loved what they're giving over there. 

Also, for the record, sat in a box stage left and had a near perfect view with the exception of one scene which lasted maybe 10 seconds. Highly recommend! 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/9/16 at 6:55pm

ChildofEarth said: "jacobsnchz14 said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/A-Feast-for-the-Senses-WAITRESS-Audiences-Welcomed-Into-Theater-with-Aroma-of-Warming-Pies-20160405"

^ that sounds like a headache waiting to happen."

 

It isn't strong at all and you can only smell it in that tiny lobby they have. Certainly made me hungry though. 

 

[petewk87]

Posted: 4/9/16 at 8:06pm

Are box seats only available at the box office? How much are they? Thanks!

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 4/9/16 at 11:33pm

And Peggy said: "

This was my view from row C and it felt too close. The front row was definitely craning to see, and they were most likely covered in flour by the end of the show! 

 

"

I am seated in C 5, would you recommend that I change my seat to E 7?  I think I can do this through Ticketmaster.  Bought my ticket a long time ago!

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 1:48am

Saw the matinee earlier today.  Liked, didn't love, it.  Hubby and I arrived at the theater at 1:15 and got two of the three remaining standing room spots. Agree about earlier comments on the diction.  Although we always got the gist, we missed phrases and lyrics here and there because of the country-fried twanginess of how the songs were sung. Only the delightful Christopher Fitzgerald and Nick Cordero managed to be understood 100 percent of the time; the smile-inducing Keala Settle about 99 percent.  Jessie Mueller was heartbreaking and wonderful, but I did have an occasional problem understanding the last word or two in many lines of her songs.  Act I has many bright spots helping to overcome the stereotyped, melodramatic situations, but Act II seems bogged down by one lugubrious number after another. Loved Drew Gehling as the doc, but I'm sure the A.M.A. would have a problem with the doc's. uh, bedside manner.  Nick Cordero's talents--loved him in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and BROOKLYNITE--seem rather wasted; I could easily imagine him as the doc instead of the stereotype redneck husband.

POSSIBLE SPOILER:

His character actually brings up a plot fault:  The husband comes across as a cartoon villain, so the audience can readily understand his wife's desire to leave and doesn't really fault her for finding solace elsewhere. But when he tearfully confesses his love for her and what she means to him, that only seems to harden her feelings against him.  Her attitude at that point made me lose sympathy for her, which I don't this was the authors' intention.

Note re standing room: it was very comfortable and the sightlines were great. Our only problem was the very audible incessant chatter, laughter and clatter by what I assume to be the ushers and house staff behind the rear orchestra curtain, frustratingly distracting during the quieter scenes.  Unfortunately, I could not locate the house manager afterwards to bring this to his/her attention.  

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 7:14am

Saw this last night and really loved it. I was a little scared I wouldn't enjoy it because of this thread but I definitely cried several times during the performance. (spoiler alert) I agree with Mamaleh that the husband was a bit of a cartoon villain, but I actually think we're supposed to feel a bit torn about our leading lady when he breaks down and cries. The movie was very dark and didn't offer any judgements between right and wrong, only about the importance of finding your happiness in a life that can be short.

My only complaint was about the cut songs. "EVERYTHING CHANGES" (the penultimate number) has been abbreviated into one verse (without even a chorus). It was quite annoying because the song is so beautiful and really seems to show the changes that our waitress has gone through. It seems that it was probably cut for time, but I would have rather sat in my seat for 2 extra minutes and gained that catharsis the song offers. 

And the lyrics to her "i want song" have also been changed. They have more to do with baking now, but less to do with the fact that she is pregnant and needs to make a big decision about her life.  My friend that I went with actually thought there should have been a song when she gets pregnant and was surprised when I reminded him that she indeed did sing a song when she found out she was pregnant. I think "Door Number 3" actually worked better. Perhaps there is a way to combine some of the lyrics from the old version and the new version together.

Other than that, I was a soggy mess. Loved this musical and cried my eyes out. Great performances all around!

 

Updated On: 4/10/16 at 07:14 AM

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 8:14am

mamaleh said: "The husband comes across as a cartoon villain, so the audience can readily understand his wife's desire to leave and doesn't really fault her for finding solace elsewhere. But when he tearfully confesses his love for her and what she means to him, that only seems to harden her feelings against him.  Her attitude at that point made me lose sympathy for her, which I don't this was the authors' intention."

I actually think this scene was pretty effective at showing how Jenna had finally "had it" with Earl's behavior, truly seeing through his BS. She is starting to recognize her own self worth for the first time in a long time. While we only see one instance of it, I believe his tearful apology is supposed to be just one of many in a pattern. It's very common for an abuser to apologize, resulting in the victim staying and perpetuating the cycle. Remembering that Jenna has been with Earl since high school, and grew up in a house where her father abused her mother, it clearly takes the character a long time to see the light. Dr Pomatter is gentle and kind which I think triggers something in her to realize she is worth more (as well as the influence of her friends and baby on the way).

The scene when he cries and asks her to say she won't will love the baby more than him made my stomach turn - and I'm glad for that. It was the right way to portray a controlling, abusive husband. 

 

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 9:50am

Trying to plan a day out with my niece, who is 15, and thinking this is a good choice. She's a young 15, would this be appropriate? I've never seen the movie.

 

also how much are those pies in a jar?

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:14am

^I don't think it's appropriate for a young 15 year old. I believe the pies in a jar were $5.00. Cheaper than they were at A.R.T.

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:25am

mailhandler777 said: "^I don't think it's appropriate for a young 15 year old. I believe the pies in a jar were $5.00. Cheaper than they were at A.R.T."

For some reason I thought they were $10 ... But that was at the first preview so it may have changed. 

Normally I think 15 would be an okay age but as a "young 15" this may not be the show for her. 

[pupscotch]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:26am

ChildofEarth said: "Trying to plan a day out with my niece, who is 15, and thinking this is a good choice. She's a young 15, would this be appropriate? I've never seen the movie.

 

also how much are those pies in a jar?

 

"

Depends on the fifteen year old I think. I thought it would be fine for someone of that age, at least from the movie and the footage I've seen.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:43am

Unless she has been raised in a convent, I don't think there is anything happening on stage in WAITRESS that a 15 year old wouldn't already have been exposed to.  I would say its a PG 13 rating.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:55am

I think this show is fine for a 15 year old. It has nothing worse than a PG-13 movie would have.

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 11:15am

The little pies were $15 last night

[mamaleh]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 11:19am

The husband's insecure whining underscores his immaturity more than anything else.  They obviously are not a functional couple, and she's better off without him.  But her hardened words, coming as they do on the heels of his emotional outpouring--which, although he may usually be full of b.s., seemed to ring true for perhaps the first time--might have been better placed elsewhere in the show.  I just found it somewhat jarring. 

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 11:22am

Apologies if this is too heavy but I think it's important. I forgot to mention this in my previous post, if you haven't seen the show yet or didn't notice it, Jessie Mueller has the following link at the end of her bio in the Playbill: www.mssm.edu/savi

It goes to the Mt. Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention program, which is described as "SAVI is dedicated to validating, healing and empowering survivors and their supporters to lead safe, healthy lives through advocacy, free and confidential counseling, and public education."

While Waitress has a happy ending and plenty of lighthearted moments, it also addresses serious issues. I was so impressed to see how Jessie realizes the effect that this show's storyline can have on people enough to put that in her bio.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 7:43pm

UnwoundFantasies said: "The little pies were $15 last night

 

"

What flavors do they offer? I'm going again this Tuesday and really want a pecan pie for dinner dessert.

[TFMH18]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 8:25pm

To the person who inquired about the box seats, I believe they are only available at the box office (the lovely gent who was working there kind of "hooked me up". I arrived at the theater about 30 minutes to curtain and explained I wanted to see that performance. As others have said, the staff could not be kinder! 

[pupscotch]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 9:06pm

TFMH18 said: "To the person who inquired about the box seats, I believe they are only available at the box office (the lovely gent who was working there kind of "hooked me up". I arrived at the theater about 30 minutes to curtain and explained I wanted to see that performance. As others have said, the staff could not be kinder! 

 

"

How expensive are the box seats?

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:49pm

ChildofEarth said: "Trying to plan a day out with my niece, who is 15, and thinking this is a good choice. She's a young 15, would this be appropriate? I've never seen the movie.

 

also how much are those pies in a jar?

 

"

PIES IN A JAR are $15 actually...

and 15 years old is absolutely old enough. The movie is rated PG-13, and this version has been tamed. It is essential for young women to see stories with strong female leads. You should explain to your niece that the writer, director, choreographer, designers, music director, and stars are all female and she can be anything she wants to be in life if she continues her education and fights the patriarchy!!!! 

[Back Row]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 10:54pm

In Cambridge, the pies in a jar were really just a couple of bites of pie. For $15, I hope there's a little more there. 

[TFMH18]

Posted: 4/10/16 at 11:24pm

The box seat I purchased was $79! 

[AuntSuzzy]

Posted: 4/14/16 at 10:05pm

Saw this last weekend and I agree about poor enunciation/clarity of sound. I was surprised that (at least last Saturday night) the performers were all wearing headset microphones. The headsets were visible and seemed like a really clunky choice. Also the sound was uneven in volume. Did anyone else notice the headsets? Anyone better acquainted with what might be happening with sound design during previews?

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 4/15/16 at 2:41am

Back Row said: "In Cambridge, the pies in a jar were really just a couple of bites of pie. For $15, I hope there's a little more there."

 They are no bigger then they were at A.R.T.