After a premature West End closure due to the pandemic, Waitress, the smash-hit musical comedy written by Sara Bareilles is opening up (again), kicking off its UK tour at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Based on Adrienne Shelley’s cult film of the same name, the show tells the story of Jenna, a talented pie-baking waitress with a big heart whose life unexpectedly changes when a new doctor arrives in town.
Several cast members from its West End run have returned to reprise their roles, most notably Lucie Jones who plays the lead, Jenna. From her debut in 2019 to coming back after the show’s closure, Jones has grown in leaps and bounds in her portrayal of Jenna. From her beautiful rendition of ‘What Baking Can Do’ to the incredibly emotional ‘She Used to Be Mine’ which received a well-earned standing ovation, Jones was truly mesmerising from start to finish.
Cast members also returning playing Jenna’s co-workers and best friends are Evelyn Hoskins as the Civil War obsessed Dawn and Sandra Marvin as the fierce and fun Becky. Tamlyn Henderson is back again as Jenna’s horrid dead-beat husband Earl, joined by Christopher D. Hunt as Cal and Michael Starke as Joe, who were all great. Hoskins really came into her own as the nervous but caring Dawn, playing off of Marvin’s feisty portrayal as Becky. Jones, Hoskins and Marvin in their entertaining performance of ‘The Negative’ and the reflective ‘A Soft Place to Land’ celebrate the power of female friendship and are the heart of the story.
A new addition to the talented cast that also deserves a special mention is George Crawford as the hilarious and loveable Ogie. Crawford certainly gave a standout performance, his energy and dancing in ‘Never Ever Getting Rid of Me’ left the audience howling with laughter. Crawford’s sweet chemistry with Hoskins and their chaotic romance in ‘I Love You Like a Table’ was enjoyable to watch and his memorable portrayal was a real highlight of the show. Crawford is undoubtedly a star in the making.
Busted’s Matt Willis took on the role of Dr Pomatter, although not as vocally strong as his counterpart Jones, Willis did a good job of playing the slightly awkward doctor and had great comedic timing, especially in their one-on-one interactions.
Another highlight was Scarlet Gabriel as Nurse Norma, who was a real scene-stealer. With her witty one-liners and growing annoyance as Dr Pomatter sends her away on increasingly pointless tasks so he can spend some alone time with Jenna. With her amusing eye rolls and muttering under her breath, Gabriel truly made her mark every time she stepped on stage. The ensemble and house band were also brilliant, bringing Bareilles incredible music and lyrics to life, their joy at being back on stage was evident in their high-energy and enthusiastic performances.
Despite a few mic issues at the start, the show’s message of love, friendship and family with plenty of pie puns thrown into the mix, was as powerful as ever. For those looking for a heart-warming, hilarious and fun-filled evening that is guaranteed to make you smile, laugh or cry, Waitress is the show for you.
Waitress is currently on tour across the UK showing at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 11th September, with tickets and dates available from: https://www.waitressthemusical.co.uk/
Reviewer: Gemma Prince
Reviewed: 7th September 2021
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★