Plot Summary
Waitress (2007) at first appears to be a light-hearted
romantic comedy about Jenna, a waitress made submissive by her husband Earl’s
violent tendencies, falling for her gynecologist, Dr. Pomatter. The silliness
of Jenna’s two waitress friends and her comically therapeutic habit of naming
pies after her most recent frustration act to balance some of the incredibly
dark themes upon which the film is built: domestic abuse, infidelity, and the
fear of single-motherhood. Though it was originally meant to remain a movie, the quirky and unique nature of the film inspired singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles to write a produce a Broadway musical version of the story in 2017.
Waitress on Broadway with original cast featuring Keala Settle as Becky (left), Jessi Mueller as Jenna (Center), and Kumiko Glenn as Dawn (right)
Waitress as a Melodrama
Though Jenna's daughter, Lulu, isn't born until the very end of the film (and play), the mother-daughter relationship is a significant overarching theme. From Jenna's perspective, her unborn child is is the only other person in the world facing the kind of pressure she's currently working through, so it's natural that she often thinks out loud, and addresses "baby" as if her daughter is right in front of her. The theme of motherhood becomes quite clear after Lulu is born happy and healthy, and Jenna is finally depicted in a scene that doesn't evoke feelings of anger or disappointment. Following other events surrounding the birth of her daughter, Jenna is found in quite a dark place. It is the birth of her child that brings her a sense of calmness and relief that all she has sacrificed and endured has been worth it.
Waitress, especially in its Broadway adaptation, depicts and extraordinary amount of exaggerated acting on everyone's part except for, interestingly enough, Jenna. Her abusive husband is portrayed as a harmless simpleton in the Broadway production, Dr. Pomatter's promiscuous behavior with a pregnant patient is not commonly expected of gynecologists, and the portrayals of Jenna's friends Becky and Dawn are characatures created for the purpose, I believe, of creating two polar opposites of attitudes that Jenna can have. They're like reference points in the film so that the audience can see how Jenna's view of life and marriage balances between her reckless friend Becky and her overly cautious, pessimistic pal Dawn.
One of Jenna's famous creations: "I don't want Earl's baby" pie
Social/Cultural Significance
The privilege of being in a long-term
committed relationship brings senses of both pleasure, those being physical and
emotional, and duty, derived from the need to fulfill the vows made to one’s
spouse. As it has its roots, customs, and traditions in a plethora of cultures,
religions, and societies, marriage is not an uncommon personal goal. To some,
the idea of a white picket fenced house with a loving spouse and healthy
children is still seen as a significant accomplishment in life, and Shelly’s
female characters are no exception. With Becky’s constant complaints of her
ailing husband, Dawn’s troubles with speed-dating, and Jenna’s problematic marriage,
all three waitresses experience the same feeling of displeasure that
accompanies not living up to the outdated misconception that maintaining a
successful marriage with children is a prerequisite for a woman’s happiness.
This mindset leads Dawn, the most timid of the trio, to settle for a speed-date
suitor, against whom she originally intended to file a restraining order,
because she did not think anything better was about to come around and wants to
experience married life. A concern attached to the idolization of marriage and
the perceived need to participate in it is the fact that reality usually does
not measure up to the dream we seek so desperately to manifest, especially in
relationships.
No comments:
Post a Comment