This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Waitress at the invite of Birmingham Hippodrome.
For Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre, Dan Partridge spoke about his role in this touring prouction. Listen below:
By Dave Massey
Waitress at Birmingham Hippodrome: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐Charming!
Directed by Diane Paulus, book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Jenna is pregnant and has an awful relationship with Earl, thankfully her work friends adore and value here, particularly when it comes to her pie making skills. But a young, dashing doctor has appeared on the scene, and he is saying nice things.
Carrie Hope Fletcher brings the character of Jenna to life with a great performance, strong and vulnerable, with a powerful voice; it is easy to see how she connects to the audience. Sandra Marvin and Evelyn Hoskins are so much fun as Jenna’s work friends, each getting their own quirks and story within the narrative. Dan Partridge delivers an excellent performance as Dr Pomatter, whilst Mark Anderson does a great attempt at scene-stealing throughout with his wild character of Ogie.
The smart set swiftly switches from restaurant to Doctor’s office and to Jenna’s home, and the costumes are both modern and timeless at the same time. It could be set any time in the past twenty years. There’s a warm feeling from the audience throughout; they are loud and appreciative of every big song!
This production ran at two hours and thirty minutes, including a twenty-minute interval, and this production is quite adult in parts, dealing with serious themes in a robust manner. It’s tricky when Mark Willshire sings as Earl; he gives a great performance for a character that is loathed. There is pie-making on stage throughout, and the pie choreography is very fun to watch.
Fans of the film and previous tours will find much to adore about this production. It’s fun, welcoming and charming. Waitress is at Birmingham Hippodrome until 2nd May 2026. Book tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/waitress-two.
