Have you ever cried over pie? No? Just me? Well by the end of this pie-filled show, you will most certainly find tears in your eyes. It’s serving hilariously bad ideas sung beautifully.
Waitress follows Jenna, a small-town waitress and expert pie baker trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage. When she discovers she is unexpectedly pregnant, she begins searching for a way out, pouring her fears, dreams, and secret desires into her baking. A local pie-baking contest offers a glimmer of hope for a financial escape, but things get beautifully complicated when she crosses paths with her charmingly neurotic new gynecologist. Backed by her eclectic coworkers at Joe’s Diner, Jenna navigates heartbreak, friendship, and the messy ingredients of life.
While the show gives a colorful almost sitcom-like feel (relying on relatively modest sets, lighting, and costumes), It is elevated by a razor sharp script. The witty, perfectly timed writing pairs effortlessly with Sara Bareilles’ sensational original score and songs like Bad Idea and She Used To Be Mine keep the audience thoroughly captivated from the first beat to the final bow.
Carrie Hope Fletcher wowed us last year as the rough and tumble Calamity Jane, but meeting her as Jenna is an absolute pleasure of a different kind. Her performance is anchored by flawless vocals that effortlessly balance raw, aching vulnerability with an underlying, fierce strength. You feel every ounce of Jenna’s conflict through her singing.
Les Dennis once again graces the stage of the Wales Millennium Centre, having previously delighted audiences here in 42nd Street. This time around, he takes on the role of the grumpy old diner owner, Joe. Despite the character’s gruff exterior, Dennis’s performance makes the audience warmly affectionate toward the difficult shop owner. Whilst his solo musical number wasn’t a personal highlight for me, the rest of the production more than made up for it starting with the pure comedy excellence of Dan Partridge as Dr. Pomatter and Mark Anderson as Ogie. It is physically impossible not to belly laugh at the antics of these two; their comedic timing is genius, and their vocals are absolutely spot on.
Another standout performance goes to Evelyn Hoskins as Dawn. Playing Jenna’s anxious, history loving coworker, Hoskins is delightfully cute, innocent, geeky, and hilarious. She commands the stage with a lovely voice that makes her scenes an absolute joy to watch. When He Sees Me is a brilliant song and Hoskins delivers it perfectly.
Waitress proves that the right blend of heart, humor, and exceptional talent is the perfect recipe for an unforgettable night at the theater.
Get your tickets now at https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/waitress
