Waitress, continues at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking until 19 February 2022, before touring until 20 August 2022. More dates to be announced soon.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Based on Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 film, Jessie Nelson and Sara Bareilles’ acclaimed Waitress presents the complex and at times bittersweet story of the lives and loves of the employees of Joe’s Pie Diner in the heart of the American South.
This touring production yields all the ingredients of a successful show: highly polished performances, emotionally weighty plotlines set in relief by frequent moments of comedy, and impressive direction from Diane Paulus including many carefully orchestrated instances of foodstuffs being exchanged and recipes enacted onstage.
Leading the cast is Chelsea Halfpenny as the titular waitress and piemaker extraordinaire Jenna Hunterson, joined by workmates Evelyn Hoskins as the slightly geeky Dawn and Sandra Marvin as the more confident Becky. The three waitresses work very well together onstage and all offer stellar performances as individuals, each coming into their own during emotional solo numbers, ‘When He Sees Me’ for Hoskins, Act II opener ‘I Didn’t Plan It’ for Marvin, and (although there is a long wait for it) ‘She Used to Be Mine’ for Halfpenny.
Nathanael Landskroner (standing in for regular cast member Matt Jay-Willis) performs well as Jenna’s love interest Dr Pomatter, his excellent comedy timing matching perfectly the unusual yet still convincing chemistry between his character and Jenna. As a counterpoint to the doctor, Tamlyn Henderson presents a thoroughly unlikeable Earl, Jenna’s despicable husband.
There are many fine turns from the supporting cast, one highlight being the brief number ‘Club Knocked Up’ in Act I, which provides some light-hearted relief from the main storylines. Christopher D. Hunt is absolutely believable as Cal, the waitresses’ gruff manager who reveals a softer interior; Michael Starke likewise demonstrates a sensitive, avuncular side as Joe, the diner owner who warms to Halfpenny’s Jenna. As Dawn’s partner, George Crawford plays a suitably quirky and eccentric Ogie.
The six-piece band led by musical director Ellen Campbell brings Sara Bareilles’ score to life effectively, and it is great that the instrumentalists are so visible in the production, situated onstage (perhaps intended to be the diner’s house band) with individual musicians making occasional appearances within specific scenes as well.
A show about an abusive relationship, unexpected pregnancy and extra-marital affairs may have seemed an unlikely offering for Valentine’s Week, but this production serves up a delicious slice of musical theatre and its UK and Ireland tour looks set to be highly successful.
Christopher Wiley
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