Waitress - serves up a treat
- K107FM
- May 14
- 2 min read
The award winning hit musical Waitress came into town this week at the Edinburgh Playhouse starring Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna and Les Dennis as Old Joe. With a soundtrack by Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson, the stage show is based on the 2007 movie.
Even before the curtain goes up, we get a sense of quality when Sara Bareilles herself sings the warning to switch your phones off and derived from her hit song Cassiopeia.
Then from the energetic opening of What’s Inside we see this inventive set from Scott Pask as Joe’s Pie Diner is created with the live band wheeled in and a cast brilliantly choreographed by Lorin Latrarro even a waiter’s tray thrown across the set is caught in the blink of an eye. This excitement carries on too as we meet Jenna and waitresses Becky (Sandra Marvin) and loopy Dawn played by Evie Hoskins led by their hard driving boss Cal played by Dan O’Brien. We then meet Jenna’s abusive husband Earl, played convincingly by Mark Willshire and then has an affair with her doctor. Dan partridge plays Dr Jim Pomatter, and their infatuation is mutual as is his love of Jenna’s baking.
All of life is here, domestic abuse, hopes, aspirations, pregnancy, camaraderie and lots of comedy. Les Dennis almost has a cameo role as diner Old Joe but commands the stage with his lines and has his big moment with the song Take It From An Old Man without losing his American accent. Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez has an effective minor role too as Nurse Norma, great character acting and gaining many laughs.
The songs by Sara Bareilles are strong throughout and the whole theatre applauded loud and long for Jenna’s big song You Matter To Me. Francesca Warren leads her six musicians live on stage producing a big sound in perfect clarity and when they reprise Opening Up for the finale there is joy all around with a happy ending ensuring smiles all round both on stage and from satisfied theatre goers.
Waitress at Edinburgh playhouse until May 16, Tickets here: