11 April 2024 , 11:29
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Times are hard for Sheridan Smith and things are only getting worse as her new show, Opening Night, was cancelled after a wave of criticism.
The musical directed by Ivo Van Hove premiered on March 6, 2024, at London's Gielgud Theatre and was originally planned to stay until July 27. Sadly, on Thursday (April 11, 2024) production announced it will end its run two months early, on Saturday, May 18.
Producers Wessex Grove released a statement, blaming "a challenging financial landscape" as they wrote: "In a challenging financial landscape, Opening Night was always a risk and, while the production may not have had the life we had hoped for, we feel immensely proud of the risk we took and of this extraordinary production. Our world class cast delivers a brilliant show night after night, and there are still five weeks left to see Sheridan Smith in the role of a lifetime."
Sheridan Smith's new musical has been scrapped from the West End and will end its run two months early (Dave Benett/Getty Images)Sheridan takes on the lead of Myrtle Gordon, a functioning alcoholic actress, in the musical which is based on the 1977 John Cassavetes film of the same name. Ticket holders for shows past May 18 are due to be contacted by their ticket provider, as promised on the West End's official website. The Mirror has also reached out to Sheridan's representatives for comment.
News of the cancellation follow Sheridan's recent pleas to theatregoers to give the musical a chance as it came under fire when many of them had branded it "boring", walking out half way through the performance. The TV star begged members of the public to buy tickets while chatting to Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2 on Tuesday (April 9) as she opened up about her growing stage fright.
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"I get terrified, it's worse as I get older. I was fearless when I moved to London. Now, there's so much pressure", she had said, before pleading: "It's absolutely fascinating and fun… please come!"
Sadly, critics were just as harsh, despite high hopes for Sheridan's Opening Night, with The Standard deeming the show was "a hot mess" and "unsalvageable." Meanwhile, The New York Times branded Ivo's interpretation "a sludgy travesty" and "a corny melodrama", before pointing out its "series of poor choices", in spite of its potential.
During a chat with The Guardian in February, 2024, Sheridan claimed that Opening Night was her chance to start afresh and right some wrongs after her 2016 breakdown. "Getting the script for Opening Night was a sign... I knew I had to do the play as a way of taking control of what I went through. I felt so ashamed of that time. I need to prove I’m not that person. It’s been very cathartic."
Sheridan Smith is one of many stars to appear in Opening Night as she stars in the controversial play alongside Hadley Fraser, Shira Haas, Nicola Hughes, Amy Lennox, John Marquez, Benjamin Walker, Rebecca Thornhill, Cilla Silvia, Ian McLarnon and Jos Slovick.