Waitress - Adelphi Theatre / U.K. Tour / Cinema

I got tickets last min on Tues afternoon as my friend wanted to go that night and there was quite a lot of availability in the stalls and dress circle, but upper circle was pretty much sold out. We got stalls tickets, but come curtains up the stalls seemed pretty full, and I couldn’t see too many empty seats, so yeah maybe it does do good last minute trade. Also, it’s a 1,500 capacity theatre, and it’s February, and that’s a lot of tickets to sell, so I wouldn’t expect a show like Waitress that is still in previews to be selling out such a large theatre, especially early in the week. 

So I’d been waiting for this to transfer for nearly a year (I know many people were probably waiting a lot longer!) after discovering the cast recording last Easter. I can see why some find the music bland but I loved almost all of it from the first listen, I think Sara did an amazing job.
I think the biggest surprise from seeing the full show was how funny it was. I know people had said it was funny but people also say the film is funny and that is more subtle humour and the occasional chuckle mostly from Joe’s lines. This is on the other hand had us laughing through basically every scene. I think for me that’s the main way that Jessie Nelson has enhanced the material.

Performances:
Kat McPhee, as others have said, her voice is fantastic, one of the best I’ve heard live. That vocal rest seems to have done her a lot of good and her voice really suits these songs. For me if you just wanted someone to sing the songs, she’s an even better choice than Jessie Mueller. But I agree acting wise, she doesn’t quite cut it. I wouldn’t say I thought she was dead behind the eyes (or couldn’t move her face!) and she made Jenna a likeable and believable character but the problems arose with the “deeper” scenes  in the second act. I think if Waitress was just a rom-com about a girl having an affair with her doctor and making some pies, she’d be absolutely fine, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the story of a woman who’s been abused emotionally and probably physically for who knows how many years and is really reaching the end of her tether. Her She Used To Be Mine didn’t move me to tears, whereas JM’s did just from the first few listens of the cast recording. She just seemed to be singing it, which was still a treat to hear, but not quite what I wanted from the song, it really needs that acting through song that JM brings in spadeloads. She still got an extended applause for the song though, so obviously most of the audience disagree! But overall she’s a good performer and I’m glad she’s come over for a little run, I think the poor girl gets some unnecessary stick sometimes!
Marisha Wallace was probably the highlight of the show, as I expected. She was sensational in Dreamgirls and maybe even better in this. Comedy is definitely her thing and here she has so many funny lines. And then she really showed everyone exactly how it’s done with her solo number, it really is a showstopper! What I love about Marisha is how hard she clearly works, she has this beautiful smile when she’s up there on stage, something I noticed in Dreamgirls, and you can see how much she enjoys what she’s doing. It’s hard not to be invested in her performance, she basically forces you! I think her work ethic is incredible and you can really tell she never takes any of her lead roles for granted, I hope we can keep her in London for many more years!
I loved David Hunter, so funny and endearing in all his scenes. The chemistry between him and KMP is also great. It did sound like he maybe struggled a little bit with some of the higher bits of the score but he still sounded great and it’s early days in the run. (Also he is very VERY good looking! KMP is so naturally beautiful too though, I guess it’s very easy to see how these characters fall for each other.)
I didn’t like the sound of Laura Baldwin’s voice on the recordings from rehearsals but live she sounded really great, and she’s so right for this part. Her solo number maybe was a little OTT but still very well performed. From seeing the film before, I thought Dawn would be the bigger part but it’s Becky who steals the limelight more really!
Jack McBrayer, hmmm. I was physically cringing through the first half of Never Ever Getting Rid of Me, his singing voice really can’t be described as anything other than AWFUL! He is just naturally funny though, and the audience loved him, and I have to admit I did too! I just hope that they cast an MT performer who can actually sing Ogie’s song next, as I’d really like to hear it properly.
Peter Hannah great as Earl, there’s not really much you can say about the role. You’re supposed to hate him and he definitely made us do that so job well done. His voice did sound a bit dodgy in his solo, maybe he was just having an off-night. Stephen Leask also gave a nice performance as Cal, him and Marisha bounced very well off each other I thought.
Shaun Prendergast was good as Old Joe, even though I think he’s a tad young for the role, he’s more of a “Middle-Aged Joe”. I think Keri Russell and whoever played Old Joe in the film had a lot of natural chemistry and the man playing him was so perfect in the role that it’s hard for me not to compare the two. Shaun still did very well though.
Last, but definitely not least, Kelly Agbowu is HILARIOUS as Nurse Norma. She has quite a few great one liners in the second act and she really is quite the scene stealer. I’m sure she’ll be a great Becky when she goes on for Marisha.

I might come back with some more comments later because for now this post is way too long and probably boring everyone, sorry!! This is just one of my favourite shows so I have a lot to say about it😬

sparky5000 actually come to think of it when I’ve listened to one or two recordings of Kat doing SUTBM on Broadway last year and on the opening weekend over here, it did seem a lot more emotional than what we got on Wednesday night. I was in Row L stalls so I would have been able to see the tears on her face etc. and she didn’t seem to be crying, and she didn’t sort of “break down” mid-song in the way she seemed to on recordings so maybe she was just having an off-night or was tired? (Though I never would have thought that from the quality of her voice!)

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure stage wigs aren't made on latex caps - even if the hair itself is, the part that joins with the skin is some sort of fine netting so that it blends well. You can often see the netting if you're sat close enough in a theatre.

Funnily enough on Wednesday night everyone gave a big cheer when Jenna tells Earl to get out! Maybe that was the first time!