Melbourne Reviews

There are few musical theatre productions created in the past 30 years that have the kind of chokehold on the musical theatre community like Waitress. Alongside Heathers, Hadestown and Six, Waitress has lived in the ears and hearts of musical lovers since its Broadway premiere in 2016. Based on the 2007 film starring Keri Russell, Waitress has finally arrived in Melbourne with a cast of seasoned professionals and new talent. Former Rogue Traders frontwoman turned musical theatre star Natalie Bassingthwaighte takes on the lead role of Jenna, a small-town expert pie maker in an abusive marriage who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. An incredible actress and singer, Bassingthwaighte takes on the role with sincerity, and while the delicate top notes aren’t quite there, her strong rock vocals shine through Bareilles’ score.

Flanked by best friends and fellow waitresses at Joe’s Diner, Gabriyel Thomas as the tough-as-nails Becky and Mackenzie Dunn as the wildly neurotic Dawn, this trio are the heart of the show.

Thomas is commanding presence on stage, and her solo of “I Didn't Plan It” is pitch perfect. Dunn is wonderfully cast as Dawn and makes the potentially two-dimensional character adorably comedic.

Rob Mills is Dr Pomatter, the HIPAA-violating OBGYN of Jenna, who begins an affair with his pregnant married patient. He is sweet as the doctor, but the romantic chemistry between Mills and Bassingthwaighte feels forced, while the friendship between the two is very natural.

Keanu Gonzales is delightfully heinous as Jenna’s husband Earl, playing the love-to-hate narcissist with aplomb, and Gareth Issac is pure joy as the potential love bomber Ogie, bringing the house down with his performance “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me”.

There is a lot to love about this show; the cast are strong, and the onstage band who interact in the main diner setting is a fun touch. However, at times it felt that everyone was trying too hard to show the audience how great the production is rather than trusting in the work and letting it breathe. I hope as they settle into the season it can become a more lived-in piece.

Whether you love the movie, the soundtrack or the show itself, even if you don't, Waitress is a fun and mostly low-stakes night at the theatre. It may not challenge you with any groundbreaking new ideas, but Bareilles’ expert score and Jessie Nelson’s comedic script will ensure a great night out either way.