Month: September 2017

One thing that is essential know about my taste in music is that I LOVE Sara Bareilles. When I heard that she was writing the music for a musical named Waitress, it immediately rose to the top of my list to see. I had the opportunity to see it on the same trip as when I saw Dear Evan Hansen in May, and to make things even better, Sara Bareilles was doing a ten-week appearance as Jenna, the main character. I was in awe when the show opened and Sara Bareilles stepped onstage (I may have shed a few tears), and the show lived up to my high expectations throughout the performance.

The show opens with Jenna, a waitress and baker in a small town, singing about her quirky-named pies and how her problems can be solved with a little sugar, butter, and flour. The audience is then introduced to two other waitresses from the same diner, Dawn and Becky. Jenna soon realizes that she is pregnant, and although Dawn and Becky assure her that everything will be okay, she is unsure of her future because she is in a very abusive relationship, so she comes up with a plan to enter a pie baking contest and use the winnings to leave her husband. The show follows the three waitresses attempting to navigate life and love while still trying to follow their dreams.

The music, composed by my girl Sara Bareilles, amazingly matches the plot and portrays the emotions of the characters. Personally, I mainly listen to the Sara Bareilles recording of the songs, titled What’s Inside. Picking one song to be my favorite out of this album is difficult, but if I had to choose I would pick “Everything Changes.” Jenna sings this song after giving birth to her child, and the song is just a beautiful way that she sings about being a mother. Some of my other favorite songs are “She Used to Be Mine,” “Never Getting Rid of Me,” and “When He Sees Me.” I could go on and on about the music, but I would definitely recommend checking out the music; it speaks for itself.

Like Dear Evan Hansen and many other modern musicals, Waitress touches on serious topics such as abusive relationships. Jenna, the main character, is in an abusive relationship with her husband, and she finally finds the courage to leave him at the end of the musical (excuse the spoilers). The show brings up several different ways to leave these relationships, and Jenna’s friends are supportive throughout this time, which helps her survive her relationship and transition out of it. Not to mention, the entire production staff of Waitress is female, so they incorporate many messages to empower women.

All in all, Waitress did not disappoint from my expectations. Sara Bareilles and the rest of the cast performed wonderfully, and I definitely cried multiple times (I cry a lot during musicals). I would definitely recommend this show if you’re looking for a quirky and real show that will make you laugh, cry, and think all at the same time.

If the plot and musical numbers aren’t enough to persuade you to investigate Dear Evan Hansen further, it also focuses on serious subjects, such as family issues and suicide. In “Anybody Have a Map?”, Evan’s mother and Connor’s mother sing about how there is no “map” for motherhood, and there is no way to know if they are doing it correctly. Both mothers have different issues; Mrs. Hansen feels as though she is never home to build a relationship and spend time with her son, and Mrs. Murphy struggles with how to deal with her son’s drug addiction and rebellious behavior. Furthermore, the theme of family is developed deeper in “So Big / So Small,” where Evan’s mother sings about her hardships as a single mother. Evan’s dad left when he was young, and this experience is recounted in detail in the song. After this song, however, Evan realizes how much his mother loves him and how much she has sacrificed. Dear Evan Hansen teaches us that although families may seem broken on the outside, they can be held together with love and understanding.

In relation to the topic of suicide and the theme that everyone has a purpose, a few students, including Evan, start a campaign called The Connor Project after Connor’s death. The main message of the project is that everyone matters, which helps Evan battle his own suicidal thoughts. “Disappear” outlines the plans for The Connor Project, and in this song, Evan sings, “No one should flicker out or have any doubt / that it matters that they are here.” Inspired by this theme, they start the hashtag #youwillbefound, which is another reminder that everyone means something to other people. Understandably, this message relates to people outside the musical, and serves as a reminder that everyone is important and has a purpose.

In conclusion, Dear Evan Hansen is so much more than a regular musical; it teaches its audience about important social issues while performing impactful songs and portraying relatable characters. Honestly, this musical made me bawl multiple times and left me speechless, which is pretty hard to do because I can talk for hours about anything. Many of my friends had the same reaction, and one of my friends even called his mom after the show because he was so moved by the idea of the importance of family. I highly recommend Dear Evan Hansen to anyone and everyone, and I would even claim it comparable to Hamilton. Get your tissues ready!