THEATRE REVIEW – ‘Waitress’ (Adelphi Theatre)

THEATRE  REVIEW – ‘Waitress’ (Adelphi Theatre)

Jenna Hunterson is a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and rocky marriage. Pouring her heart into her pies, she crafts desserts that mirror her topsy-turvy life such as “The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie” and “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie”. When a baking contest in a nearby county — and a satisfying run-in with someone new — show Jenna a chance at a fresh start, she must find the courage to seize it. Change is on the menu, as long as Jenna can write her own perfectly personal recipe for happiness. This show based on the Adrienne Shelly-penned movie, features original music and lyrics by 7-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, and was previously a hit on Broadway. The London production is led by Katharine McPhee, runner-up on the fifth season of ‘American Idol’ and childhood friend of the Duchess of Sussex.

On entering the Adelphi Theatre, the first thing that hits you is the smell of newly baked pie, the producers having installed four small ovens out of sight around the theatre, in which Granny Smith apple pies, each packed with copious amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg are baked for 90 minutes prior to every performance. They even sell pies in small pots – Banoffee and Strawberries & Cream – and having booked through an online offer, I was entitled to a free pie.

Flicking through the programme, I was delighted to see several names that I recognised, in particular the two other waitresses - Marisha Wallace (playing the fiery ‘Becky’) whose opening night in the main role in “Dreamgirls” I had seen the previous year; and Laura Baldwin (playing the mousy ‘Dawn’) whose turn as ‘Janey’ in “Eugenius!” had been the stand-out performance on both occasions that I saw the show.

Everyone finally having taken their seats, the show started. The action moved between the diner where Jenna works, the pantry where she creates a new pie every day, her home, and a Doctor’s consulting room. I was impressed by the clever use of the ensemble both as diner customers, and to assist during ‘dream sequences’ and in moving parts of the set. I also liked how every so often the band would move centre-stage for one of the numbers. I found the first few numbers to be reasonably forgettable, but in my view, the show came alive when it moved to its secondary plot, Dawn’s love life, and the character of ‘Ogie’ played by Jack McBrayer (from NBC’s “30 Rock”, and voice of ‘Fix It Felix’ in “Wreck It Ralph”) was introduced with an outstanding number. I also enjoyed the humour of the piece that effectively balanced some of the more serious themes, with McBrayer and David Hunter (playing Jenna’s potential love-interest) demonstrating very impressive physical comedic talent. Peter Hannah (who played the Victorian Policeman in “Doctor Who: Deep Breath”) also impressed as Jenna’s abusive husband.

The interval saw me eating my Banoffee Pie, and I enjoyed the second half more. McPhee got to sing her showstopper - ‘She Used to Be Mine’, and Shaun Prendergast playing Joe, the Diner’s owner moved the entire theatre with ‘Take It From An Old Man’. The show came to an end, but there was to be a ‘Cast Album Karaoke’ night, hosted by Laura Baldwin, in which fans could sing one minute of any song from Waitress, live on the Adelphi’s stage, accompanied by the show’s musical director. There would also be the chance to win a one-night-only cameo role in the show. However, I decided not to stay for this. I would certainly recommend the show (and the pies, even if £7 seemed a little steep – look out for ‘Free Pies’ offers).

‘Waitress’ is running at the Adelphi Theatre, The Strand, London, Monday-Saturday 7.30pm, and Wednesdays and Saturdays 2.30pm. The Box Office at the Adelphi Theatre is open from 10am until 7:45pm Monday to Saturday. For Monday-Friday performances, a limited number of Day Seats at £25 are available in person at the box office from 10am.

Website: https://waitressthemusical.co.uk/