Waitress Serves Up Sugar, Butter, and Musical Theatre Magic in London ~ DownshiftingPRO
Waitress is a musical comedy taking part in on the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, from March 25 to April 12, 2025. The story follows Jenna, a waitress in a small Southern city who finds herself trapped in an abusive marriage after discovering she’s pregnant. Decided to create a greater future, she units her sights on a pie-making contest with a $20,000 prize—her probability at freedom. With the unwavering help of her two closest mates, she navigates love, resilience, and self-discovery. And if her distinctive baking abilities aren’t sufficient to win the competitors, the intelligent and quirky names of her pies simply is likely to be.
I might begin with the performing. I might discuss in regards to the singing. I’d proceed to say the choreography, however for me, a variety of what makes Waitress nice is the set design. I cherished, cherished, cherished, the set design.
I really like the tiers and tiers of baking paraphernalia. I cherished the diner. I even cherished the sparse ‘trailer park’ setting of Jenna & Earl’s residence. The set was designed by Scott Penner, a Canadian-born set and costume designer who splits his time between Brooklyn and Hamilton. When introduced with the chance to interview Penner, I took it. My opening line was “I’m a fan.”
I appeared again at my critiques for Elf, The Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Manufacturing unit, and (my private favorite) The Phantom of the Opera and realized that I’ve admired Penner’s work for some time now. He has a signature model—grand units with intricate shifting components and vibrant montages that deliver productions to life.
When requested about his method to creating such elaborate units, Penner defined that it will depend on the script’s calls for and the director’s imaginative and prescient. He described Waitress director Rachel Peake as a “very beneficiant collaborator” and famous that his authentic idea developed all through the method. Whereas what we noticed on stage wasn’t precisely his preliminary imaginative and prescient, Peake gave him carte blanche, and he was in the end happy with the ultimate consequence.
Motion is a key component of this set, enhancing the storytelling in dynamic methods. Totally different areas—a health care provider’s workplace, a sparse residence, even a rest room stall—are seamlessly wheeled out and in, maintaining the viewers engaged and offering recent visible views. This fixed transformation is what makes the set design extraordinary. One significantly spectacular second was when the diner counter shifted to create a brand new perspective, whereas the addition of crimson cubicles or the pie-making station maintained continuity and familiarity from scene to scene. Visually placing, thoughtfully designed, and integral to the narrative, each the costume and set design had been distinctive—kudos to Scott Penner!
One other standout was Tyler Pearse (Ogie), the awkward, lovesick poet (giving only-child power) who relentlessly pursues Elysia Cruz (Daybreak). His comical, show-stopping quantity, By no means Ever Getting Rid of Me, was a spotlight that may stick with me for a very long time. Sung within the first act and adopted up later with I Love You Like a Desk within the second, Pearse’s comedic timing—paired with Cruz’s pleasant efficiency—left me wanting extra of their dynamic on stage.
Julia McLellan (Jenna), Stacey Kay (Becky), and Elysia Cruz (Daybreak) had been completely matched, complementing one another’s vocal types superbly. Stacey Kay (a Canada’s Received Expertise Golden Buzzer winner and finalist) was significantly participating—her comedic timing was impeccable, and her powerhouse vocals made it inconceivable to not take discover.
You may have heard a pin drop when Julia McLellan delivered She Used to Be Mine within the second act. If mid-show standing ovations had been a factor, the viewers certainly would have given her one. It was stunning, deeply shifting, and mesmerizing—a kind of performances that lingers with you lengthy after the curtain falls.
The lads on this story of affection, betrayal, and friendship weren’t merely supporting characters; they introduced depth and distinction to the sturdy feminine bonds on the coronary heart of the present. Gregarious and bossy, Lee Siegel (Cal) performed nicely reverse sassy and bossier Becky. Peter Millard (Joe) struck the proper stability of gruffness and heat, making his character endearing. Kamyar Pazandeh (Dr. Pomatter) introduced charming bodily comedy to the position, making it simpler to miss the truth that he was having an affair along with his affected person. And Lawrence Libor was chillingly efficient as Earl, Jenna’s abusive, controlling husband—simply probably the most despised man on stage.
This manufacturing marked the Grand Theatre debut for McLellan, Kay, and Cruz, however I definitely hope to see them return subsequent season—maybe in Come From Away?
I’d prefer to conclude this evaluate by highlighting the work of director Rachel Peake. She did a exceptional job bringing this 2016 Broadway hit to life—a present that earned 4 Tony Award nominations, together with Greatest Musical and Greatest Unique Rating. With music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, Waitress is full of enjoyable, catchy tunes, and Peake’s path ensured they weren’t solely superbly carried out but in addition seamlessly woven into the storytelling.
Her considerate staging and dynamic path stored the present participating and filled with power, even because it navigated some darker moments. She struck the proper stability between humor, coronary heart, and hardship, making for a really compelling manufacturing. After seeing the opening-night efficiency, I used to be thrilled to congratulate her on what I consider is the standout manufacturing of the 2024-2025 season.
As soon as Waitress concludes on the Grand Theatre, it travels to Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton from April thirtieth to Might 17, 2025. I could must drive down and take my daughter to see it since she lives in Hamilton and is an enormous theatre fan!
Pay-What-You-Can
Each evaluate, I encourage you to make the most of Canada Life Sponsored Pay-What-You-Can efficiency on Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. (Pay-What-you-Can tickets change into accessible on-line at midnight on the day of the efficiency, with a choice of tickets held for in-person buy one hour previous to the efficiency on the Grand Theatre Field Workplace).
The Indigenous Neighborhood Ticket Program is obtainable to these people who determine as Indigenous. For under $20, you’ll be able to expertise one, or any of the remaining 2024/25 Grand Theatre productions.
General Advice: Don’t miss Waitress on the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. It was an exquisite present, and I extremely suggest it.
Margarita Ibbott is a journey and life-style blogger. She blogs about journey in Canada, the US and Europe giving sensible recommendation via restaurant, lodge and attraction critiques. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and different on-line media retailers.
