![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Waitress_Prod2_1920x1080.jpg)
Show: Waitress
Society: New Victoria Theatre (professional productions)
Venue: New Victoria Theatre. The Ambassadors, The Peacocks Centre, Woking, Surrey GU21 6GQ
Credits: Music & lyrics by Sara Bareilles and book by Jessie Nelson. Produced by Barry & Fran Weissler and Crossroads Live UK
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 14/02/2022
Waitress
Image: Johan Persson
I hope there’s not a Covid outbreak about to sweep through this company. The programmes all contained an addendum announcing no less than four cast substitutions; one starring role, one supporting and two swings. Not that anybody watching would have known. Nathanael Landskroner and Amelia Atherton did a great job on press night as Dr Pomatter and Nurse Norma respectively.
The West End phenomenon that was forced to close down when the pandemic hit is now touring the UK. At that time – two years ago – Lucie Jones starred in the role of unhappy wife, Jenna and, luckily returned to role until recently to kick the tour off. Chelsea Halfpenny now plays the role of the expert pie baker… and she does it brilliantly, is very funny and also boasts a fine singing voice.
The musical comes through Woking’s New Victoria Theatre this week and the town’s audiences are hungry for the perfect pastries – not only on press night yesterday but right through the entire week (I’m reliably informed by the theatre’s marketing team).
The hit show has a book by Jessie Nelson and music & lyrics from the multi-award-winning Sara Bareilles – who also played Jenna when the show first opened on Broadway.
It follows the aforementioned Jenna who – SPOILER ALLERT! – finds out she’s pregnant, but isn’t thrilled at the prospect of giving birth to her husband, Earl’s (Tamlyn Henderson) offspring. He’s a chauvinistic bully who Jenna really wants to leave. Hence, the baker begins to fall in love with her new-found gynaecologist, Dr Pomatter, who returns the feelings despite being married himself. Jenna’s two work colleagues, Becky (Sandra Marvin) and Dawn (Evelyn Hoskins) find their own love interests in the form of their boss, Cal (Becky) and quirky customer, Oggie (Dawn). There’s plenty of comedy to be had along the way and every second is milked by the entire cast.
The second act is better than a rather sluggish first half but this, being my first outing to see Waitress, I’m reliably informed that the show does grow on you. However, should that be the case? MD Ellen Campbell’s on-stage six-piece band also seemed to take some warming up but I’m sure that must be a result of the way the show has been put together. I was slightly concerned not to be able to remember a single tune afterwards though. Telling?