Waitress is one of those very rare breeds: a touring production which is actually far more successful in every way than its West End staging. Based on a 2007 movie, and first seen in 2015, the musical tells the tale of Jenny (Carrie Hope Fletcher, of whom more later), in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl (Mark Willshire – less stereotyped than in the London production). Jenna becomes pregnant with Earl’s child and starts a relationship with her obstetrician Dr Pomatter, a cosy, warm performance from Dan Partridge. Looking for a way out of her troubles, and encouraged by her friends, she decides to enter a national Pie Baking contest – after all, not only is she a waitress, she also makes the most tasty and unusual pies ever!
Originally directed by Diane Paulus, Waitress has been restaged by Abbey O’Brien with a lightness of touch and attention to detail that has been lacking in previous productions. Lorin Latarro’s choreography is stylish, Scott Park’s sets are smoothly and quickly changed – the backdrop is especially impressive – and the six-piece “Waitress Band”, situated upstage left, is never allowed to overwhelm the singers.
However, what impresses above all is that the casting has been done from strength – there is not a weak link in the sixteen-strong ensemble.
Carrie Hope Fletcher is very accomplished in her role. She is onstage most of the time, in fact, she only seems to leave in order to change costume, yet appears totally relaxed throughout, but with supreme energy and charisma. She puts over her various musical numbers effortlessly, especially “She Used to be Mine” just before she gives birth. She inhabits the stage rather than just acting a role and one almost believes that she has made all the pies that we see. (By the way, whoever is in charge of all the pies, as well as all the ingredients for making them, deserves a Fanny Cradock award: when you see the show, as I hope you will, just try counting the number of times a pie is made, eaten, or is just ‘used’!).
Jenna’s friends, Becky and Dawn, are in the more than capable hands of Sandra Marvin and Evie Hoskins, both of whom are given well-written roles with interesting musical numbers: although Jenna is around for much of the time, all the secondary roles are essential and have motivation, even if the ‘plot’ is nicely stereotyped! Cal, the manager of the Pie Diner, is amusingly played by Dan O’Brien and Les Dennis is suitably poignant as the diner’s owner, Joe, revealing a knowledge of how to put over a song to great effect.
Ogie, who eventually marries Dawn, is very amusingly played and sung by Mark Anderson: his first half number, “Never Getting Rid of Me” is extremely funny, and in the right place just before the end of Act One, demonstrating that book writer Jessie Nelson and composer and lyricist Sara Bareilles knew what they were doing!
Waitress is a very enjoyable show, stylishly directed and acted by everyone involved. If you saw the original at The Adelphi Theatre, do try to see it again on tour, if not in Brighton, then before it reaches Manchester in October. It is one of those “feel-good” musicals that sends you out of the theatre feeling that all is right with the world. Very highly recommended!
Review by John Groves
Meet Jenna, a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life. When a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. With the support of her workmates Becky and Dawn, Jenna overcomes the challenges she faces and finds that laughter, love and friendship can provide the perfect recipe for happiness.
Carrie Hope Fletcher – Jenna
Les Dennis – Old Joe
Evelyn Hoskins – Dawn
Sandra Marvin – Becky
Dan Partridge – Dr Pomatter
Mark Anderson – Ogie
Mark Willshire – Earl
Dan O’Brien – Cal
Yochabel Asante, Alice Croft, Jamie Doncaster, Daniel George-Wright, Emma Lucia, David Mairs-McKenzie, Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez – Ensemble
Will Arundell, Will Hardy, Bayley Hart, Olivia Lallo – Swings
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music and Lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Sara Bareilles
Based upon the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly
Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus
WAITRESS THE MUSICAL
Theatre Royal Brighton Tickets, 6 to 11 April 2026
Tour continues to 31 October 2026
