My husband Geoff and I arrived at the Bristol Hippodrome knowing very little about Waitress.

We knew it was a critically acclaimed, Tony and Olivier Award-nominated hit, but beyond that we were going in completely blind.

As it turned out, that may have been the best way to experience it.

At its heart, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a gifted pie maker trapped in an unhappy marriage whose extraordinary baking becomes both her escape and her way of expressing the emotions she struggles to put into words.

With the love and support of those around her, she slowly begins to rediscover the strength to change her future.

Even before the curtain rose there was a wonderful buzz around the Bristol Hippodrome. The audience felt noticeably younger than those attending Jersey Boys and Miss Saigon, creating a lively atmosphere full of anticipation.

The evening began with a smile. Before the curtain had even risen, a beautiful voice echoed around the theatre asking everyone to switch off their phones. We never actually saw who was singing, but it had the whole audience laughing and immediately created such a warm, relaxed atmosphere. It was a lovely touch and the perfect way to begin the evening.

As the curtain rose, Jenna stood alone in the spotlight, but strangely it was the bright yellow mixing bowl that immediately drew my eye. It almost felt as though it had been given centre stage.

Before a word had been spoken, you instinctively knew baking was going to become much more than simply Jenna's job. Looking back, it was such a clever piece of visual storytelling.

I absolutely loved Joe's Pie Diner. It almost became a character in its own right. Thanks to Scott Pask's wonderfully detailed set design, every little feature had been thought about, from the bell for service, bottles of sauce on the tables and the tray-stacking trolley (pie-rack) to the bar stools, blinds that rolled up, and the constant bustle of customers.

What also impressed me was the production's confidence in its stagecraft rather than relying on flashy effects. The use of real flour, eggs and other baking ingredients throughout added a wonderful sense of authenticity, making the bakery scenes feel completely believable.

Combined with beautifully choreographed scene changes and fluid set movements, everything flowed so effortlessly that I soon stopped wondering how they were doing it and simply found myself immersed in Jenna's world.

One thing that struck me very early on was just how beautifully balanced the whole production was. One minute the audience were roaring with laughter, the next there would be a quieter moment of gentle light relief before the story would suddenly pull at your heartstrings. It never lingered too long in one emotion, and, because of that, the emotional moments hit even harder. There were proper belly laughs throughout the evening, but there was real heartbreak too, and somehow Waitress gets that balance just right.

The friendships between Jenna, Becky and Dawn are at the heart of Waitress. Sandra Marvin is wonderfully feisty as Becky, while Evelyn Hoskins is delightfully awkward, vulnerable and utterly lovable as Dawn. Together they create some of the funniest moments of the evening, but it is their warmth, loyalty and unwavering support for Jenna that gives the production its heart.

One of my favourite storytelling devices in the whole production is the way Jenna's pie recipes are woven into the story. Right in the middle of a scene, time suddenly seems to stand still. Everything freezes before a spotlight picks out Jenna as she quietly begins creating another of her imaginative pies. As she talks us through each recipe, every ingredient somehow reflects exactly what she is feeling at that moment, often saying the things she simply can't say out loud. Then, almost before you've realised it, the scene springs back into life and the story carries on exactly where it left off. I absolutely loved it.

Carrie Hope Fletcher is wonderful as Jenna. Of course, she sings beautifully – everyone expects that – but it was her acting that completely won me over. She never overplays the role. Every emotion she portrayed felt utterly authentic and before long I realised I wasn't watching Carrie Hope Fletcher anymore – I was completely invested in Jenna and desperately willing her to find her happy ending.

One thing Geoff and I both kept coming back to afterwards was just how strong the entire cast was. Usually there is one obvious supporting performance that steals the show. This time we both struggled to choose. Every time we thought we'd made our minds up, somebody else came along and changed them. That's probably the greatest compliment we can pay this company.

Mark Anderson as Ogie, had me laughing from the moment he walked on stage. His wonderfully awkward pursuit of Dawn is completely endearing, and every time he appeared I found myself smiling before he'd even said a word. By the time he cartwheels off the stage, the audience absolutely adored him, erupting into laughter, cheering and applause. I honestly don't think anyone else made me laugh quite as much.  Geoff completely agreed with me that the supporting cast were exceptionally strong, but if pushed, Ogie just edged it for us both.

Showbiz legend Les Dennis is wonderful as Old Joe. Initially gruff and seemingly uninterested in everyone around him, he gradually reveals a warmth and decency that make him an incredibly endearing character.

Then there is Earl. Mark Willshire is chilling as Earl.Nothing about his performance feels exaggerated, and that's exactly what makes him so frightening. He isn't frightening because he's loud; he's frightening because he feels real. One scene in particular had me literally holding my breath. When Earl discovers the money Jenna has secretly been saving, you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre. The tension was almost unbearable as the audience waited to see what would happen next.

Sara Bareilles' music is absolutely beautiful. The songs never feel as though they're there simply because it's a musical – each one serves a purpose, moving the story forward while revealing something new about the characters.

The orchestra was superb throughout under Nadia DiGiallonardo's musical supervision. I particularly loved the moments when the musicians became part of the production itself rather than remaining hidden away in the pit.

It was another thoughtful touch that added even more life to the stage.