Waitress: The Musical

Sara Bareilles has a wonderful, lovely presence. She's so likable, she's so grounded, she has the most crystal clear, beautiful voice, and these songs are also lovely.

!t it is really quite wonderful.

While Waitress is still probably a dish best served live, like Hamilton and Come From Away, seeing this event presentation feels like a good idea.

The show is smoothly staged before an appreciative audience, with well-chosen theatrical touches.

This is Bareilles’s show in every way. While she doesn’t quite match the emotional subtlety of Jessie Mueller, who originated Jenna, she has grown in leaps and bounds as an actress and provides a warm anchor for the movie.

This sweet story lends itself nicely to a musical... A lovely tribute to Adrienne Shelly.

Bareilles’ committed performance makes Waitress: The Musical a worthy variation.

Waitress: The Musical starring Sara Bareilles stays true to the quirky spirit and emotional core of the original 2007 movie but with its own spin.

It’s a marriage, not of convenience or of once-burning-hot desire, but of proper affection and respect, one where audiences will not forget this is a play first, even while being swept up by it through the performances and songs.

The end does feel a bit rushed (in order to cram in a happy conclusion), but ultimately, Waitress: The Musical proves why it has become so beloved among Broadway fans.