Jenna is a waitress who bakes pies that have names like, “Live Your Life,” “I Hate My Husband,” and “I Don’t Want Earl to Kill Me.” It’s almost like she’s trying to work out the Gestalt of her life in the kitchen. 

Jenna says she invents pies “where you wouldn’t think all the ingredients would go together but they do.” That’s sort of like the musical she’s the main character in, “Waitress,” now playing at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre.  

It’s an enthusiastically performed, energetically sung, musically tasty production, but it’s also amateurish at times, a bit dated and like some pies, slightly overdone. The fault is not with the cast, which like most Cabaret casts, is often Broadway-worthy. The problem is essentially with Jesse Nelson’s writing — the “book” of the musical, originally a 2007 film. It sort of, but doesn’t always, stand the test of time. 

Its message is still relevant, but the story is slightly cliched. It has a nice theme though; the people you consider “family” may turn out to be far different than the ones you thought you were stuck with. 

Jenna is a young woman working in a roadside diner. She’s got an abusive husband and besides her pies, she’s also got a bun in the oven. Husband Earl makes it abundantly clear; Jenna better not love the baby that’s coming more than him. Played by Miguel Ragel Wilson, Earl’s a classic narcissist and perpetrator — mean, menacing and self-centered. Wilson has Earl all figured out, with all his brashness and obsessive behavior. 

Jenna, played by Carrie Lyn Brandon, knows her way around Earl, and she has a plan to escape: She plans to win a pie-making contest, take the winnings and begin a new life. 

Brandon possesses a strong voice with a wide range. She powers on through, singing on nearly all of the  22 numbers. All that singing about “What Baking Can Do,” and “What’s Inside,” is hard work. Each song is emotionally-charged and works to tell part of the story. 

Jenna’s waitress friends are Becky, a strong, take-no-prisoners Black woman played by Tyler Ray Lewis, who is protective of Jenna. Lewis is a big, brash singer with a voice that announces itself. Lewis sings what may have been designed as the showstopper at the start of Act Two, “I Didn’t Plan It.” Lewis’ delivery is right on, but there’s no real build-up to it. The song becomes a proclamation, unmelodic and preachy.  It’s a not-so-great song sung by a powerful singer.

Andrea Hochkeppel plays Jenna’s pathologically-shy waitress friend. She’s the comic relief along with the fellow she falls for, Ogie, played by Alex Boyles. Together, their fear of dating and shared neurosis bring some good laughs. 

Matt Staley plays Dr. Pomatter, Jenna’s obstetrician and love interest. Tyler Ward Lemons as Cal, is the stereotypical, disgruntled head cook. Scott Ford plays diner owner Joe. All blend well under the confident direction and choreography of Lauren Blair.

Composer/lyricist Sarah Bareilles’ songs are acceptable show tunes, but there’s an awful lot of them. It would be great if the cast occasionally directed their voices toward the balcony. There was an echo that made the lyrics difficult to decipher. Calling, Tyler Berg, sound designer!

The production team brought the café to life. Under Michael Wilkins creative musical direction, performers in “Waitress” also double as musicians: percussionist Tyler Lemons, Matt Staley and Aubrey Campbell; keyboardists Andrea Hochkeppel and Alex Boyles; cellist Esther Soyong Lee; and guitarists Miguel Ragel Wilson and Tyler Lemons. 

Apparently life isn’t always a bowl of cherries. Sometimes it’s a piece of pie. “Waitress” occasionally has a flaky crust and there is a scene that is a bit sexually suggestive, but overall, the ebullient cast and music will carry you through.

Performances of Oregon Cabaret Theatre’s “Waitress” are set for 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, Mondays and select Wednesdays, and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through June 15. Were it a movie, it would be rated PG-13 due to sexual content, language and thematic elements. Tickets are $32-$54.

The theater is located at 241 Hargadine St, on the corner of First and Hargadine streets, Ashland. Tickets and information are available at oregoncabaret.com or by calling 541-488-2902. Reservations are required for pre-show dinner and brunch. Appetizers, beverages and desserts are available without reservations. Student rush tickets are $15 and can be purchased 30 minutes before curtain with valid ID, subject to availability. Group discounts available.

Reach Ashland-based writer Lucie K. Scheuer at LucieScheuer19@gmail.com.