Service Please is a funny, and sometimes uncomfortable look at life in the service industry. Written and performed by Connie Peel, it follows Lara, a young and naïve writer trying to finish her fantasy novel while making ends meet with a waitressing job at Barcelona Bites. What begins as a way to pay the bills quickly spirals into something far more consuming, and Lara soon finds herself overwhelmed by long hours, a sleazy head chef, and the hollow reward of a 19p per hour pay increase following her promotion to shift manager.

Peel completely embodies the role of the naïve dreamer, capturing Lara’s early optimism with warmth and humour before showing how quickly that spark can be worn down. Her performance has a natural ease that makes the character instantly relatable — you can’t help but root for her even as the job starts to chip away at her self-worth. The humour here isn’t biting or cruel; it’s wry, gentle, and grounded in the little truths of restaurant life that anyone who’s worked in the service industry will instantly recognise.

What makes the piece powerful is how it balances lightness with honesty. Beneath the funny anecdotes lies a story about exploitation, burnout, and the danger of losing yourself in a job that doesn’t value you. By the end, Lara’s decision to take back control of her own narrative feels both empowering and quietly hopeful.

Service Please is a heartfelt and engaging one-woman show that is well worth 50 minutes of your time.

****

Reviewed by Rona