Review: Waitress at Liverpool Empire Theatre

“…Warm, funny, romantic and just the right amount of naughty…”

Waitress by Jessie Nelson, Liverpool Empire Theatre

By Abi Kelly

If there’s one thing you can rely on when seeing a musical in Liverpool, it’s that the audience will make its presence known. Waitress is exactly the kind of show that benefits from that energy: cheeky, romantic, and occasionally rather naughty. Waitress is packed with enough comedy to have the Empire audience firmly on board from the start.

At the heart of the story is Jenna, a waitress and gifted pie maker whose life has become increasingly confined. Ellie Ruiz Rodriguez, stepping into the role on Monday night, was fantastic. Her vocals were particularly impressive, bringing both power and vulnerability to Jenna’s musical numbers, while never losing sight of the character underneath them.

That sense of confinement is also cleverly reflected in the staging. When Jenna is at home, the playing space literally becomes smaller, creating a physical representation of the restrictions placed upon her. It is an understated piece of design, but an effective one: the audience can see Jenna’s world closing in around her.

Fortunately, the diner provides quite the opposite atmosphere. It is where friendship, flirting, gossip and more than a little chaos collide. The show’s storylines are particularly enjoyable because they feel far from the polished, predictable romances musicals can sometimes give us. Waitress allows its characters to be messy, impulsive and occasionally very naughty, and the audience absolutely loved it.

The chemistry between Jenna, Dawn and Becky is arguably even more rewarding. The warmth of their friendship shines through, giving the show a heart that goes beyond its romantic relationships and dramas of the heart. Evelyn Hoskins was a particular highlight as Dawn. Her comedic pacing was excellent, with a knack for holding a moment just long enough to squeeze another laugh from the audience. Mark Anderson was another clear crowd favourite as Ogie. His appearances were met with enthusiastic reactions, and the Liverpool audience seemed to lap up every second he spent on stage.

There is surprisingly little elaborate choreography, but this never feels like a weakness. The movement works with the music rather than competing with it, allowing Sara Bareilles’ score to carry much of the emotional weight. The result is a production that knows when to go big and when to simply let its characters and music do the work.

And then there is the show’s surprisingly lovely message. Beneath the pies, love and more questionable romantic decisions, Waitress ultimately celebrates the families we create for ourselves. Its belief that friendship and platonic love can be every bit as meaningful as romantic love is a particularly welcome sentiment.

Liverpool audiences are famously responsive, and the best shows know how to harness that energy. Waitress does exactly that. The laughter, cheers and delighted reactions become part of the evening, creating that wonderfully cooperative feeling. Warm, funny, romantic and just the right amount of naughty, Waitress serves up a very satisfying night at the Empire.

Waitress plays at Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday 12 September. Tickets are available here.

Abi Kelly is a writer and theatre enthusiast who has studied both Drama and Scriptwriting. A lover of weird and wonderful stories, she’s usually found at home with a book in hand or deep in a theatre seat.