Waitress the Musical review [Australia 2026]

Boasting a superb cast, hit Broadway musical Waitress makes its overdue Australian premiere in terrific form. 2016 Broadway musical Waitress received four Tony Awards nominations and ran for just under four years on Broadway, also playing London’s West End from 2019 until the 2020 lockdowns. Based on writer / director Adrienne Shelly’s 2007 independent film, Waitress has the distinction of being the first Broadway musical to have an all-female creative team. Popular singer / songwriter Sara Bareilles wrote the music and lyrics, book writer Jessie Nelson adapted Shelly’s screenplay, Diane Paulus directed the musical, with choreography from Lorin Latarro. Titular waitress Jenna not only serves pie at Joe’s Pie Diner but also bakes the pies, channeling her inner feelings into creatively conceived flavours and names, such as “Aren’t You Sweet Potato Pie.” Jenna suffers in a loveless marriage to her ne’er do well husband Earl, who threatens physical violence and insidiously asserts…