By Lynda Lacayo
“Waitress” has all the right ingredients for a well-baked entertainment entree at the Segerstrom Center, now through Nov. 25.
The musical “Waitress” is based on the film of the same name. It is the story of a small town waitress, Jenna, who has, well, a “pie in the oven” and a really nasty husband. The care and camaraderie of her coworkers guide her through life’s trials leading her toward a triumphant future.
There’s purity, innocence and plenty of humor in Jenna’s journey to female empowerment.
Sure, “Waitress” will serve up giggles galore but it offers even more with a moral message about the treatment of women. Hopefulness is the whipped topping on this musical pie.
One good reason to catch the down-home show is its trailblazing all-women creative team, a Broadway first. A second is the touring company cast, led by Christine Dwyer as Jenna.
The seasoned actors are the perfect recipe for a lively theatrical happening. Among the talented professionals none is as well-seasoned as Larry Marshall who plays Joe, proprietor of Joe’s Cafe, Jenna’s boss and best customer. Marshall has over 52 years as a Broadway actor. It can be said that he’s gone from “Hair” in 1969 to here, “Waitress,” in 2018. He has 15 Broadway shows, including “Porgy and Bess,” among his credits. That’s quite a career.
Marshall’s acting chops were more than enough to land him a great leading role in “Waitress,” but he has a few other unique qualifications that make him a great Joe. For starters, Marshall was not concerned about working with the all-gal team, as he says, “I’ve had a lot of women raising me in my life so it wasn’t anything new. I survived 14 years of Catholic school with nuns. It doesn’t matter to me that the women are in charge. I’m used to it and I like working with the women of ‘Waitress.’ They’re all very, very good at their jobs.”
For aspiring artists, the words actor and waiter are almost synonymous. This holds true in “Waitress” with several of the leads having served time in the hospitality industry, albeit in the past. It’s not surprising that most of the troupe has bussed a table or two. What was a surprise is that Marshall, whose career path was decided at age 15, was no stranger to the restaurant hustle. In the early days, Marshall, with a group called “Inner Circle,” worked as singing servers, doing bits from Broadway shows.
Marshall also had a stint in the restaurant biz working at Tad’s Steak House around the time of the New York World Fair.
He says, “I was a salad man. We had bowls of salad fixings on a conveyor belt. I’d scoop up the greens, and then put on tomatoes—it was like Lucille Ball in the Chocolate Factory.”
He continues, “Actually, I think, deep down inside, if I hadn’t had a successful acting career, I might have gone to cooking school and become a chef.”
Yes, Marshall, with his culinary curiosity, is the perfect fit as a diner owner in a musical revolving around restaurant personalities. It is, however, his age, wisdom and life experience that elevates him from ordinary Joe to extraordinary Joe in the show.
“Waitress” is the story of Jenna, small town server, expert pie maker and victimized wife. When she’s offered a chance at escape by entering a pie bake-off, it’s the support of her dorky doctor, unconventional coworkers and Joe, the cantankerous diner owner, who help her to find the strength to change her life.
This show is primarily about the women, with the men just being there to push them along. Marshall would agree that it is Joe’s lines, often a blend of sugar sprinkled with spice, which propels the plot. He says of his character, “Joe is a wonderful role for me because of the way he changes and develops as the musical progresses. His approach to Jenna is one of tough love. The advice he gives her isn’t always what she wants to hear. The thing is, even when Joe’s being a bit of a curmudgeon, you can tell that he’s looking out for Jenna. For example, he tips her better than anyone else. Audiences see his deep fondness and caring for her, in his gruff own way. He’s like a ‘Dutch Uncle’ to Jenna and the staff and that creates a kind of human intimacy in the diner.”
What appeals most to Marshall about “Waitress” is the message and the music. Of the message, he says, “The show handles the whole idea of the abuse issue with depth and sensitivity. It’s a wonderful treatment of such a disturbing subject. And to take that and put it into a musical, filled with the comedic value of life situations, is just marvelous. Its message is no matter how dark it may seem, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Marshall likes so much about “Waitress,” which he describes as an incredible show, but says, “What I like best about it is the music. It has humor, without being slap stick silly. The music by Sara Bareilles is incredible. It is so sing-able.”
“Take it from the Man” is Joe’s big number and a favorite with Marshall. But the song he most loves listening to, as he’s standing in the wings, is “You Matter to Me.”
He says, “I love that song. I love the creative melody in the duet.”
He continues, “And of course, there’s ‘He Used to be Mine,’ Jenna’s 11 o’clock number at the end of the show.”
It’s “love at first bite” when the Segerstrom Center for the Arts serves up “Waitress,” now through Nov. 25. For tickets and information: online: SCFTA.org; The Box Office, 600 Town Center Dr. in Costa Mesa; or phone, 714-556-2787. The hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
