A.C.T. IN RIDGEFIELD SERVING UP A DELIGHTFUL PORTION OF PIE IN "WAITRESS THE MUSICAL"

When you think of ingredients like butter, sugar, flour, eggs, vanilla , and oil, you are quickly in the kitchen plotting a pie and deciding whether to add heavy cream and chocolate or a pint of sweet blueberries. If your name is Jenna, you have been carefully taught by your mom to make magic in a pie shell every day at your place of employment Joe's Pie Diner.

Whether you’re ordering a gourmet five-course dinner or a simple slice of cherry pie with vanilla bean ice cream, your pleasure in your meal depends as much on the food as on the waitress who serves you. If you’re lucky enough to have Jenna as your server, and double lucky enough to be feasting on one of her heavenly perfect pie creations, you know what hanging out with the angels is all about. Come pull up a seat at Joe’s Pie Diner located at the A.C.T. in Ridgefield as “Waitress The Musical” comes to town until June 22.

With music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson, “Waitress” boasts an all woman creative team. Come meet Jenna, a conflicted Abigail Sparrow, the sweet hearted server who is trapped in an abusive relationship with Cody Jenkins, her hubby Earl. When she discovers she is pregnant, she has to “clean up” her personal messes and get her act together.

Beginning more than a professional interest with Dr. Jim Pomatter, John Alejandro Jeffords, her gynecologist, is the first step Jenna takes to improve her life. A pie baking contest in a nearly county is the second step. With her recipes for such specialties as Mermaid Marshmallow, The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie and “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie,” she views the grand prize as her big chance at a new life.

Jenna’s third step is to find the courage to abandon her loveless marriage and take a stand for freedom and happiness. That recipe is more elusive than most and harder to find the proper ingredients for, but with her sincere sister servers Becky and Dawn, Amma Osei and Shaylen Harger, her crusty boss Cal, Joseph Torello, and loyal customers, like David Sitler’s Joe, Jenna eventually finds everything she is seeking.

While much of the angst of the musical centers on Jenna and her difficult marriage situation, Dawn’s anxious attempts to enter the dating field and her first success with Wesley Slade’s hysterical Ogie provide a welcome divergence of delightful humor, plus another unexpected dalliance behind the mustard and ketchup bottles with Becky and you’ll never guess who. The adorable appearance of little Lulu, Maeve Marbury, is the cherry on the dessert. Sara Brians directs and choreographs with style.

Live music directed by Nicholas Connors like “What Baking Can Do,” “It Only Takes a Taste,” “A Soft Place To Land,” and “Everything Changes” keep the action baking to perfection.

For tickets ($79 and up), call the A. C. T., 36 Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield, at 475-215-5497 or online at boxoffice@actofct.org. Performances are Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Plan to order a slice of perfection, like Mermaid Marshmallow pie, as you enjoy the heavenly treats on the stage. Don’t forget to leave a generous tip for your waitress.