When one hears about a show involving adultery, aggression and sexual innuendos, striking love stories aren’t the first thing to come to mind. But that initial impression is turned on its head by the cast and crew of Theater Cedar Rapids’ production of Waitress.
Talented leads represent each character with stunning and unique portrayals. Marita May O’Connell was incredible as Jenna, with strong vocals and intricate emotional representations that immediately hooked audiences.
It was impossible not to fall in love with O’Connell as Jenna; the gentleness of the character paired with the power of her voice resembled the beauty of a Disney princess. Jenna is a hard-working waitress and aspiring baker in an unhappy marriage longing for a different life. That longing becomes a goal when she finds out early in the show that she is pregnant, and then sets out for a better life for herself and her child.
A dynamic actress, O’Connell brought humor and heartache to the stage. Her talent was enough to yield laughter and tears from audience members throughout the show.
O’Connell brought an especially impactful touch to the song “She Used to Be Mine” which is beautiful on its own, but O’Connell’s performance took it to the next level. Her calm demeanor was artfully contrasted with her intense vocals, in a song about losing yourself, the passion of her emotion is intensified by the delicate and touching tone of her voice.
Tad Paulson, who played Jenna’s husband, Earl, was, in the best way possible, an angry, aggressive, and small-minded drunk. He was incredible as the insecure husband to Jenna and proved that even the worst of characters can gain audience sympathy through the right actor. Paulson’s ability to change emotion from anger to despair in seconds made Earl perfectly manipulative.
Another notable performance came from Lauren Fenwick, who played Becky, a rock to fellow waitresses Dawn and Jenna. She was a confident and fiery addition to the show. Fenwick’s performance brought power to the trio, but also a sort of unexpected vulnerability from a character generally humorous and light-hearted.
In songs like “The Negative” and the hilariously entertaining “Bad Idea” reprise, Fenwick shows audiences her knack for humor. In her demeanor and delivery, she displays her sass and confidence when delivering each laugh-inducing line.
Despite the comedic nature of her character, Fenwick showed off her acting range in her song“I Didn’t Plan It”. Her powerhouse vocals and raw talent were on display once again, but in this number, Fenwick introduced the emotional, vulnerable side of Becky. In a song that could be sung with anger, the portrayal was nothing but emotional. The pent-up frustration of an unsatisfied woman is humorously nodded at before the song floods out through Fenwick’s stunning and strong voice.
The third addition of the trio of waitresses, Dawn, played by Victoria Shellady, is nothing short of shocking. Dawn in her first number “Opening Up” is a loveable, awkward dork. But the crowd is awed when she steps into the spotlight and shows off her stellar voice in “When He Sees Me”, at the start of her romantic storyline.
Her performance is an expert portrayal—Shellady stayed true to the dork-ish nature of Dawn, while still showcasing her talent within the character.
Ogie, Dawn’s equally awkward-yet lovable partner, played by Jason Millsap, is the lighthearted sweetheart that the show didn’t need but is better for. Millsap was the perfect person to take on the role, his bubbly energy and hilarious delivery had the audience consistently erupting with laughter. “Never Getting Rid of Me” and “I Love You Like A Table”’ are perfect evidence of that fact, his humor and exceptional vocals making his performance of Ogie memorable and endearing.
O’Connell, Fenwick and Shellady shine as individuals, but when they come together, a story is truly told. From their first trio, they became the first true love story of the show. One of friendship, and unconditional support. Strength in numbers is a theme not limited to just the trio, it is present in the entire show. The strongest of performances involve the ensemble.
The ensemble adds an element of entertainment that is essential. When in the diner, the main setting of the show, looking around at tables to see the expressions on each cast member’s face is exciting.
At one table a couple may be chatting, at another, they may be holding their mug up to request a coffee refill. Along with the background moments, the company adds mesmerizing and strong vocals to every song they’re present in.
Praise to the entire cast is earned from tallest to smallest. Colette Davis, the youngest member of the cast, held her own among powerhouse voices. She showed incredible emotional portrayal for an actress as the characters of young Jenna, Lulu and an ensemble member.
A nod is also owed to the set and lighting design of the show. The set had a depth to it that made it dynamic and able to change between locations quickly. Lights were a tool for storytelling in the production, highlighting cast members acting while enhancing their performance.. At one point during “Bad Idea”, a song about intimacy, the lights cut in and out and left the actions that went on in the darkness up to the audience.
The show’s orchestra, though small, was talented and executed each number with precision and intensity adjusted to fit each point in the show. Music escalated each dramatic scene and supported every emotional one. By partnering with the actors’ vocals, all the musicians in this production displayed talent beyond belief
TCR’s Waitress is a show tied closely with Kennedy as the school is well represented by its alumni including Sam and Shay Larson, Raiya Hurt, Amadeus Borchardt and Shauna Williams.
Sam Larson even expressed gratitude to Kennedy’s Theater Director Nick Hayes in a statement, saying he’d “like to thank his family and his friends, but more specifically [my] older sibling for being so supportive and encouraging [me] to audition for TCR, as well as Nick Hayes for giving [me my]first theater experience that inspired [me] to continue.”
Waitress at Theater Cedar Rapids was an emotional story of love packed with chemistry and humor from each cast member. The set and lighting design was a perfect match to the story. TCR’s cast brought life to the show. The production in a word? Dynamic.
