THE musical creator of Sheridan Smith’s Opening Night has defended the actress as the troubled West End show faces being cut short after audience backlash.
Theatre-goers have been accused of falling asleep and walking out of the show since it launched on March 6.
Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, who wrote the music for the production, praised Sheridan as he announced his next project.
Rufus said: "Excited to announce I will be returning to Cafe Carlyle from October 15-19 for five nights to sing Cole Porter and songs from my musical Opening Night. Tickets are on sale now.
"Opening Night is maybe the most personal work I have composed in a very long time.
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"The main character Myrtle Gordon played in London so devastatingly brilliantly by Sheridan Smith is going through a personal and professional crisis as a theatre company is getting ready to open a new play on Broadway.
"I have spoken publicly before about my drug addiction which ended in me temporarily going blind.
"I was going through a very dark period on tour also in 2020 while on tour and Gena Rowland’s performance in Opening Night was a beacon of hope that would get me out of bed.
"When I came home I had an email from Ivo van Hove in my inbox asking me whether I would write a musical based on Opening Night with him.
"I am truly excited to try out this material that I wrote for our wonderful company in London myself for the first time for the return to this magical and intimate space of Cafe Carlyle.
"Adding Cole Porter one of the all-time Greats on Broadway and in the West End to the program is of course high risk but during Bobby Short’s 100th anniversary year I wanted to pay homage to those two lovers."
Opening Night follows actress Myrtle, played by Sheridan, who is reliant on booze as she rehearses for the opening night of a show alongside her ex.
Despite the Cleaning Up actress deservedly getting heaps of praise for her part, critics have savaged the production for the poor plot — which has seen people falling asleep in their chairs — and questionable staging.
Ahead of the show, Sheridan said: “Everyone thinks it is going to be a big, fun musical but it is very, very dark.
“It is a play within a play and everyone is just brilliant. It has been really therapeutic and fun.”
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She added of the support from fans: “I go through such emotions in the show and you have to take a minute to calm down afterwards.
“The fans always come to support and it makes it all worthwhile.
“You put yourself through the turmoil but you do it for the loving people like that.”
The Sun today revealed the cast have been warned not to expect any extra dates beyond the current run, which is due to end in July.
And, rather unsurprisingly, insiders say a number of the show’s investors have discussed potentially pulling the plug early.
A source said: “Sheridan has been a resounding success but the show itself has been far from it. To say it’s been polarising is an understatement.
“Reports of theatre goers walking out at the interval have really worried some of the investors.
“No official meeting has been held yet, but a number of them have spoken about how they would go about serving notice on the theatre and cutting the run of shows short.
“Sheridan is a saving grace for Opening Night because of how good she is on stage, but even her star power can’t get the crowds in."