Waitress - Adelphi Theatre / U.K. Tour / Cinema

I also saw the show last night. I usually love an understudy show as I’m a firm believer that most understudies can do as good a job if not a better job than most leads but it was a mixed bag for me - Charlotte Riby was great as Becky, her jokes landed for me much more than Marisha. Sarah didn’t quite have the cutesy vulnerability Dawn needs for me, although I’m glad to have seen her over Ashley. Piers did a good job as Earl but could’ve gone so much further with the extremes of Earl’s personality. I assume it’s something to do with direction, maybe the Director has said to the understudies that they should do it just like the leads - as opposed to saying ‘just go for it’. Complete speculation though.

Lucie is absolutely wonderful, she is such a technical singer which I LOVE and really truly understands her instrument. As she has that nailed, she can really concentrate on acting and telling a story which she does so well. Bravo.

I think with Earl, Peter Hannah is just super intense, and that’s hard to replicate! He def takes it further than the other Earls I’ve seen, even if he’s not v good at smashing up a guitar 😆 .... I saw Mark Willshere here as Earl in one show when he was on for Peter and he was much less intense than Peter, although I actually really liked his portrayal.

I can’t find a poster with all three of the women featured which has ANYone’s name on it, including the lead.

Blake was fabulous! Forgot to include that earlier.

Just by looking at her publicity shots, there's something remarkably un-star like about Lucy Jones. Then I heard her rendition of She Used To Be Mine on a radio show and was quite underwhelmed with her vocals. There's also some second rate Shoshana Bean riffing that she's borrowed.

Well this thread was in danger of being too positive for a second.

You like Sheridan Smith, so the bar is low. 

But what's your opinion on Lucie Jones? ;-)

Lucie is a better singer than Shoshana by a wide margin. She isn't a second rate anything and certainly not a second rate Shoshana. 

As for her being 'un-star' like, I am afraid to interrogate this too much as I always think commenting on personal appearance can verge into very unsavoury territory but obviously Jenna is styled to look a particular way.


I have to say I would struggle to see how Lucie is any less 'star' like than say Jessie Mueller, who originated the role, or Shoshana Bean for that matter. 

I saw him at Jamie and he had anything but a great voice... 

I'm not a fan of Waitress but all this constant (and repetitive) negativity about it really is becoming quite tiresome.

If you don't like the show and those in it... fine! You don't actually have to watch it, there are plenty of other shows available to watch and even talk about.

Constructive criticism from those that have seen the show is one thing, but this is something altogether different and it seems to be creeping more and more into threads.

Possibly why so many long standing posters seem to be leaving the forum!

Well, you’re right it isn’t a human right, every one here is a guest and with that comes responsibility to be pleasant to other guests. Think of it as going to a dinner party. You’re going to try and get along with the others whilst having lots of interesting conversation and elements of disagreement with a bit of friendly joshing. It would be a boring dinner party indeed if everyone sat there agreeing with each other.

Anyway, let's not be telling our valued and long standing members to leave. The mods look after that bit 🙂