‘It’s so close to the bone’: Sheridan Smith on her very public meltdown – and reliving it on stage
In the late morning, a famous person is angry and demands that the lights be turned on. She is wearing a blue sleeveless dress and has brown hair. After the lights are turned on, she changes her tone and starts to sing a funny word. Everyone laughs, and she relaxes. This woman is not the character Myrtle Gordon but is actually Sheridan Smith, a talented actress who has won multiple awards for her work on stage. Despite facing recent challenges, she is determined to prove herself.
A new musical, named Opening Night and based on the intense 1977 movie by John Cassavetes, could be a great choice. The musical was created by Ivo van Hove and Rufus Wainwright. A 42-year-old member of the cast, currently taking a break from rehearsals in a London studio, shares that the musical is very relatable and hits close to home for them. They even had a similar experience where the curtains were drawn on them - it was a crisis. Gena Rowlands plays Myrtle, the protagonist in the movie who is struggling to cope with the realization that her life, acting skills, and youth are slowly slipping away. This is made worse when a fan is killed outside the theatre Myrtle is performing at. As the story unfolds, her sanity slowly starts to deteriorate and she starts to see the dead girl everywhere.
Although Opening Night was largely unpopular when it first premiered in the US, it has since become recognized as a brilliant work of art. Despite initially only being shown in nearly empty theaters, its boldness and authenticity have captivated audiences for years. In the past, Director Van Hove presented a non-musical variation of the show in 2008, while actress Isabelle Adjani portrayed the character Myrtle in a simplistic 2019 production. Additionally, Ruth Wilson featured in a 24-hour production centered on a single scene from Opening Night at London's Young Vic in the past year.
The concept of Opening Night may now hold significance for all of us, not solely for those in the acting profession, as the boundaries between our public and private lives have blurred due to social media. Smith's own difficulties have been well-documented, including self-doubt, anxiety, alcohol use, and grief over her father's cancer diagnosis and passing. These struggles resulted in her experiencing a public unraveling while performing as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl in 2016. Smith regards receiving the script for Opening Night as a signal, realizing she needed to undertake the play as a method of seizing control over her past experiences. She felt a sense of shame regarding that period of her life and wanted to demonstrate to herself and others that she was no longer that same person. Participating in this production has had a therapeutic effect on her.
The author of the article was concerned that some parts of Myrtle's story might cause distress or discomfort. However, there are trained professionals available to talk to if anyone needs help or support. This is different from the past, where the author had a breakdown and there was no support available. Myrtle has a similar experience in the play Opening Night, where she is not in a good condition and has to go onstage with no preparation. The author feels that this situation mirrors real life. However, now the author is more resilient and can separate work and personal life. The director, Ivo, doesn't want actors to suffer for their art. Instead, they explore the emotions of the scene, then move on when it's done.
Observing the director, who's 65 years old and just finished producing Jesus Christ Superstar in Amsterdam and A Little Life in London, it's apparent that he has a calming influence on the set. He's gaunt with chalky hair, and he approaches Smith between takes with a serene demeanor, often with his palms clasped or one hand thoughtfully resting on his chin. He exudes a wise, almost priestly aura - if he weren't directing, it wouldn't be surprising if he could be administering confessions.
At the moment, Wainwright is sitting at a table with the script in front of him. He is a 50-year-old man wearing a salmon hoodie and sporting a beard that resembles a badger. Wainwright has always held a special place in his heart for Opening Night. He is a man of many talents, including singing sonnets, writing operas, and impersonating Judy Garland. In fact, he wore a dress and played the character of Myrtle in the music video for his song Out of the Game in 2012. He claims that this movie has had a significant impact on his life and he has watched it multiple times. Each time he watches it, he gains a new perspective and finds himself relating to different aspects of the movie that he wasn't able to understand before due to his maturity level.
Similar to Smith, Wainwright finds solace in Opening Night. When he was going through a difficult time, he was in Australia and needed something to help him get through the day. It could be a song, a poem, or even a phone call. Then, the idea of Opening Night came to him, particularly Gena Rowland's performance. The film was almost a matter of life and death for him during that intense period. When he returned home, Ivo suggested they work on Opening Night, which further helped him overcome his depression. He credits the movie's hairdo and Rowland's intense stare for giving him guidance during a dark time.
Van Hove has previously adapted some of Cassavetes' works, such as a rendition of Faces where the audience was able to lie on beds. However, he does not use the film adaptations as a reference. Even after all this time, he has yet to watch Opening Night. Van Hove believes in creating something original and distinct. The incorporation of music has revolutionized the production's overall vibe. The scenes integrate seamlessly with the songs, making it feel natural when the actors start singing. The production has formed a harmonious connection between its music and storyline.
Today during rehearsal, it was clear that there is a lot of intermingling between different aspects of the performance. In one scene, Myrtle went off-script and became very angry, while the ghost of her deceased fan Nancy watched from the sidelines. Nancy was dressed in torn denim, a lace dress, and black boots, holding a rose as she watched. Myrtle ran off to her dressing room, leaving Nancy - played by Shira Haas - to take her place on stage. Nancy wriggled around at the feet of Myrtle's oblivious co-star. The lines between what is happening on stage and what is happening behind the scenes, as well as what is spiritual versus corporeal, are all blurred in this production.
Those who are fans of Van Hove's creations won't find it shocking that video takes center stage in this particular performance. A team situated on the stage captures footage of Myrtle for a documentary that showcases what happens backstage, and this live footage is displayed behind the actors via a projection. As the director elaborates, "When you're watching, you have to be intentional with where you focus your attention."
When the rehearsal is finished, Wainwright has instructed the musicians in the corner about a guitar signal - "Make it unpleasant and unsightly". Additionally, he has led the group while they sing the show's delicate intro, which doubles as a chorus. Manny, the director of the play-within-the-play, delivers an inspiring speech, interchanging between speech and song, boosting the morale of the team with the statement: "Our job is to convey our thoughts on stage - and sometimes that involves going through hardships."
Van Hove underlines the significance of Manny's words. He clarifies that it's not just a motivational speech, but a heartfelt message. He compares it to Mark Antony's powerful oration in Julius Caesar. Van Hove explains that Manny is determined to make a difference and impact the world beyond, even with Gaza and Ukraine in turmoil. The silence in the room is interrupted by Hadley Fraser, who portrays Manny, asking Ivo to sing a particular part.
After the rehearsals, I noticed Van Hove putting antiseptic gel on his hand. He told me that he accidentally stabbed himself with a pencil and it hurt quite a bit. However, Manny did mention that pain is a crucial part of theatre. Despite the injury, the most memorable moment from the rehearsal was watching Van Hove supervise his team like a proud father as their voices harmonized beautifully. Van Hove described the play as a story about a theatre family and mentioned that themes of family dynamics frequently appear in his work.
The upcoming adaptation of The Shining, to be performed next year and starring Ben Stiller as Jack Torrance, will be more important than ever. The character of Jack Torrance, a flawed and troubled father, was made famous by Jack Nicholson in the classic Kubrick film. However, the new director, Van Hove, acknowledges that the original author, Stephen King, did not approve of the film. Upon rereading the book, Van Hove could see why. The movie cut out the first 100 pages of the book, which is when it becomes clear that the father has issues. The family goes to the hotel so that the father can have alone time to write. Van Hove has gone back to the original book and the adaptation will be different from Kubrick's version.
Although it may not seem like it, Opening Night and this place share similarities such as the presence of ghosts, unpredictable artistic personalities, and distressing psychological breakdowns.
