The latest West End smash to reach Milton Keynes Theatre is the romantic musical comedy Waitress on it's first UK tour, writes Chris Gregg.
With a starring role for Lucie Jones as Jenna and an original score from Grammy award-winning Sara Bareilles, this has all the ingredients for a hit musical. But what makes this show original is that it doesn't shy away from difficult topics and tells the story from a female perspective with a female-led creative team.
Jenna is a waitress and expert pie-maker trapped in an abusive relationship who is dreaming of starting a new life.
She ends up falling for her gynaecologist but her workmates Becky and Dawn help her to get through this messy situation and find the perfect recipe for happiness.
Despite the gritty story, this is very much a 'feel good' musical with strong characters which are easy to relate to. Although almost all the male characters are deeply dysfunctional individuals, everyone gets what they deserve by the end of the story.
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There is some very creative and original staging in this show. The moments when Jenna's emotional reactions are played out in the form of a pie recipe dream sequence are very clever. And the live band on stage and fluid scene changes make this feel like a very slick production.
X Factor finalist and UK Eurovision entrant Lucie Jones is brilliant as Jenna with effortlessly convincing acting and lots of opportunities to showcase her amazing vocal abilities. She stars alongside Busted's Matt Willis who gives a likeable performance as the ethically challenged Dr Pomatter. Jenna's waitress friends Sandra Marvin as Becky and Evelyn Hoskins as Dawn are complete a well cast trio.
They are joined by George Crawford as Ogie, Michael Starke as Joe (who was reminiscent of KFC founder Colonel Sanders), Tamlyn Henderson as Earl and Christopher D. Hunt as Cal.
This is a story which is less sugar-coated than the pies at its heart, told in a fresh and very current way by a very talented team. Although you will go on an emotional rollercoaster, you're sure to finish up with a smile.
