Waitress serves up a sweet treat in Milton Keynes

Naomi MacKay watched Waitress, at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 26 September.

Waitress, the hit musical by Sara Bareilles, has returned to the UK stage on tour for its 10th anniversary, bringing its warm blend of humour, romance and emotional honesty to audiences in Milton Keynes this week.

Although theatregoers’ favourite Carrie Hope Fletcher is a major draw as Jenna, the production succeeds because of the strength and chemistry of the entire company.

Fletcher gives a heartfelt performance as Jenna, a talented pie-maker trapped in an unhappy marriage and dreaming of a different life. Her vocals are particularly impressive, with She Used to Be Mine providing one of the evening’s most emotional moments. Fletcher brings a vulnerability to Jenna while also making her determination and sense of humour clear.

However, it is the relationships between Jenna and the other characters that really give the production its heart. Bernadette Bangura is excellent as Becky, bringing plenty of attitude and comic timing to the role while also showing the character’s warmth and loyalty towards her friends. Evie Hoskins is equally entertaining as Dawn, creating a wonderfully eccentric and likeable character. Her scenes with Ogie provide some of the funniest moments of the show.

Mark Anderson brings great energy to Ogie, particularly in the musical numbers shared with Dawn. Their relationship provides a welcome contrast to some of the more difficult relationships in Jenna’s story, and Anderson’s comic performance ensures that their scenes never become overly sentimental.

Dan Partridge is also impressive as Dr Pomatter, bringing charm and awkwardness to Jenna’s unexpected love interest. His chemistry with Fletcher makes their developing relationship believable, while his comedic timing works particularly well in the lighter scenes.

Les Dennis is billed as Old Joe, the owner of the diner, but for the first night in MK, the role was taken on by Will Arundel. Rather than simply providing comic relief, Will gave Joe a genuine sense of kindness, making his connection with Jenna particularly touching. His performance helps reinforce the diner as a place where the characters can find friendship and support.

Mark Willshire’s performance as Earl is notably different. Earl is controlling and unpleasant, and Willshire avoids turning him into a cartoon villain, instead making the uncomfortable reality of Jenna’s marriage central to the character.

Dan O’Brien’s Cal adds further humour to the diner, contributing to the lively ensemble atmosphere – and one very memorable scene between the diners’ waitresses and their paramours, which had the whole theatre laughing.

The production itself keeps the diner at its centre, with the set creating a cosy environment in which the characters’ lives unfold. The staging allows the focus to remain firmly on the performers and Bareilles’ memorable songs.

Ultimately, Waitress works because it balances comedy with genuinely emotional storytelling. Carrie Hope Fletcher gives Jenna a strong and moving centre, but the rest of the cast all make important contributions. Together, they create a production that feels funny, heartfelt and genuinely ensemble-driven.

It is a show about friendship, resilience and finding the courage to change your life – served, appropriately, with plenty of humour and a generous helping of pie.

Tickets at atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes.