Opening Night starring Sheridan Smith to close two months early
The performance of Opening Night, a musical presented in the West End and featuring Sheridan Smith, received disparate reactions from the public and reviewers. It has been decided that the show will be concluding two months ahead of schedule.
The performance that showcases an artist with issues related to mental health received a combination of negative and positive feedback and was scheduled to be presented until the 27th of July.
On Thursday, the producers Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions, and Playful Productions disclosed that the musical is going to terminate its run at the Gielgud theatre on 18 May. The reason cited for this abrupt ending is the "difficult economic conditions".
According to Ivo Van Hove, the director, the performance was one-of-a-kind and will always hold a special spot in his heart.
The play is based on John Cassavetes' 1977 movie, and it tells the story of a theater group getting ready to put on a performance in Broadway. The well-known and highly acclaimed actress, Smith, takes on the role of Myrtle Gordon, the leading character who goes through a serious breakdown after witnessing a tragic incident.
Rufus Wainwright, the singer-songwriter, created both the music and lyrics for the play. During the show, there is a moment where the character played by Smith falls into a drunken state outside the theater. This scene is projected onto screens inside the auditorium for the audience to see.
At 42 years of age, Smith expressed how the position may be the toughest she's ever encountered.
The theater production received conflicting reviews from critics. Arifa Akbar from The Guardian praised its unique and creative approach as well as its energetic musical adaptation, while The New York Times heavily criticized it as a poorly executed imitation of the film. Some attendees even reportedly left before the show ended.
Wessex Grove expressed their pride in creating a stunning new musical. Although it was a difficult financial venture, producing Opening Night was a risk they were willing to take. Despite the production not having the success they anticipated, they remain immensely proud of their work and the exceptional show that was created.
Our exceptional team presents an outstanding performance every night, and there are still five weeks remaining to witness Sheridan Smith's exceptional portrayal.
Van Hove expressed admiration for Sheridan Smith, describing her as "remarkable" for taking on a challenging role. He acknowledged that it was disappointing for the show to end prematurely, but expressed confidence that those who witnessed and contributed to the production will hold it in high regard for a long time.
People who have tickets booked for any date between 20th May to 27th July in the year 2024 will receive direct communication from the place they purchased their tickets.
