Adelphi Theatre
Date: 28 June (Friday), 7:30pm
Seats: Stalls Row N 4-5
(Seen with Jess!)
Understudies: Charlotte Riby (Becky)
Lulu was played by Annabelle Jones in this show.
Notes: Jess and I have seen Waitress once already, but on this Friday, having been yet again unsuccessful getting tickets to Six, Jess managed to snag a pair of seats for Waitress. We just really wanted to see theatre on Friday!
Since we had seen it last, many of the main cast had changed. In fact, Dr Pomatter (David Hunter) and Earl (Peter Hannah) were the only main roles who hadn't changed/had an understudy on. Both of those guys were great again - I'm not a huge fan of Earl, but that's just how the musical wants you to feel about him. David Hunter is perfection! His vocals are great and improved by his new Jenna as their voices blend super well. I also love the way he plays the role, so adorable and constantly putting his foot in it. So I was very glad to see him again.
Ogie is now played by Blake Harrison. The first time around, I had found the actor wayyy over the top and was turned off by that. Blake was slightly toned down compared to previously and this was a great improvement, but I still find him a bit unnecessary as a character. But like I said, I felt like Blake was better and I did find myself laughing a few times.
Dawn (Ashley Roberts) is now a Pussycat Doll! I felt all through the show that she really had a good voice - but that she was hiding it. She seemed to be making herself smaller physically (hunching over, maybe because usually the actress who plays Dawn is so short?), and her singing never seemed like it was her full potential. I didn't think she was bad, necessarily, but Laura Baldwin was so amazing I think it would have been a hard act to follow.
On the other hand, our only understudy for this slow as Charlotte Riby, who was the understudy for Becky. I remember being wowed by Marisha Wallace last time, but even before her big number I had the idea that Charlotte might be someone to watch. She threw in a couple of riffs in the very beginning of the show which really made me sit up, and then she slayed her big number!!! It was so great.
The main change in the cast was Jenna. She is now played by Lucie Jones, who I hadn't heard of, but it turns out I have heard her sing before... She represented the UK at Eurovision in 2011! I wasn't really fussed on seeing her based on name alone, but I watched the West End Live performances (I was sick a couldn't go this year...) and she seems pretty good... Turns out she was spectacular! I enjoyed Katherine McPhee, but I really connected with Lucie's portrayal of Jenna. She was more open and connected to the other characters, where Kat felt disconnected and distant. I'm sure this was a purposeful choice, but Lucie's portrayal was much easier to connect to. Plus, she put in some amazing riffs. Her She Used to be Mine had me wanting to give her a spontaneous standing ovation, which I haven't wanted to do in quite a long time... She was phenomenal. Which I know I say a lot, but I preferred her to Kat.
The show itself was great, as usual. I do think Bad Idea is my favourite number - and David Hunter and Lucie Jones made for a lovely couple. I just really believed more and felt more invested in this performance than the first time I saw it. And I might need to see Lucie again...
