REVIEW: Waitress

Waitress serves a sweet slice of American diner life, topped with complex relationships and

sprinkles of delightful moments.

The first time I encountered Sara Bareilles it was 2006 and her hit ‘Love Song’ came

preinstalled on my Playstation Portable as a featured music video. Fast forward 20 years

later and I’m sat in Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne’s east end, listening to Sara’s songs

in a very different format: live on stage through Waitress The Musical.

Finally hitting Australian shores for the first time, I’ve been eager to catch the show irl ever

since I watched the filmed stage production and walking into the theatre the energy is

palpable. The audience has come dressed in their most delectable fits (a pie beret is a

particular standout), cocktails inspired by sugar, butter and flour catch my eye and columns

of twirling pies frame the stage, while the pie lattice curtains invite us in for a taste of what’s

to come.

Photo credit: Jeff Busby

Natalie Bassingthwaighte plays the titular waitress Jenna and together with Gabriyel Thomas

as Becky and Mackenzie Dunn as Dawn, the trio really shine with ‘Opening Up’ helping

warm up the audience.

Both Thomas and Dunn are immediate stand outs. Thomas brings a sense of stoic

dynamism to Becky that is only reinforced by her vocals, while Dunn is utterly charming,

naive and dorky in all the right ways.

Gareth Isaac and John Xintavelonis also delight as Ogie and Cal respectively, with

audiences giggling and applauding with glee whenever a goofy/sassy line is delivered. And

John Waters provides an understated quiet charm as Joe the diner owner, with his rendition

of Take It From An Old Man.

However I can’t help but feel slight trepidation from Bassingthwaighte and her performance.

While all moves with baking utensils are performed with swift ease, there seemed to be a

sense of anticipation for her next move/note that I didn’t notice with the other performers. I

chalk it down to opening night jitters as by the time the second act rolled around, her stage

presence felt less tense, especially with the all encompassing performance of She Used to

Be Mine.

Photo credit: Jeff Busby

Similarly, Rob Mills as Dr Jim Pomatter amps up the awkward and neurotic almost a bit too

much and I’m left feeling like I'm watching a caricature. The chemistry between the two

never really clicks and I’m left longing for scenes between other characters.

Where Waitress really shines though is when the ensemble cast takes to the stage. Their

presence and smooth vocals felt like someone just added a pinch of MSG to the musical

soup and boosted all the bits that made it great. All the technical elements are pulled off

without a hitch and I’m especially impressed given the amount of props on wheels and flour

flying around the stage.

It’s a production that maybe needs a bit more time in the oven, but we’re served a delicious

taste of musical sweetness nonetheless.

Don't miss your chance to taste the sweetness of Waitress playing at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne until the 12th of July or at The Sydney Lyric Theatre from the 1st of August!

3.5 out of 5 Stars