Sheridan Smith remains defiant as she insists West End play is ‘going really well’ despite being cancelled two months early after it was blasted by critics and audience members

Sheridan Smith has insisted her West End musical Opening Night is going ‘really well’ despite it being canceled two months earlier after being snubbed by critics and audience members.

It was announced on Thursday that the show will now end at London’s Gielgud Theater on Saturday, May 18, two months earlier than originally planned on July 27 – as producers blamed the shock decision on a ‘challenging financial landscape’.

Sheridan avoided speaking directly about the show’s closure and joined presenters Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Heart Breakfast on Friday morning as she insisted all is well.

When Jamie noted that Sheridan is very busy at the moment, the actress agreed: ‘Yes, I’m doing the Gielgud Theater a show called Opening Night and it’s going really well.”

Fans have been baffled and bored by the production, with dozens of theatergoers leaving the show almost every night since its debut on March 6.

It was announced on Thursday that the show will now end at London’s Gielgud Theater on Saturday, May 18, two months earlier than originally planned on July 27 – as producers blamed the shock decision on a ‘challenging financial landscape’.

And Sheridan also seemed to weigh in on the baffling plot, as she explained: ‘It’s very different, it’s very strange. It’s a kind of brave, daring theater. It’s not the sort of normal things that would normally happen in the West End.’

Sheridan stars as Myrtle in the new musical, which is based on the 1977 drama film starring Gena Rowlands. directed by Ivo Van Hove, with music by Rufus Wainwright

She continued, “So there are no wings, the stage is stripped down, there are cameras, so there’s a big screen so you can watch it as a movie, or you can watch it on the screen.

“And it’s a play within a play, so it’s about a company of actors putting on a show and my character has a nervous breakdown and it’s questionable whether she’ll make it to opening night.

“But it’s brand new, so it’s never been done. It’s so different from anything else I’ve done because it’s not like your happy, clappy musical.”

She added: ‘I’m just really proud of it and the company is so talented.”

Jamie also asked Sheridan how it feels to be back in the West End after her previous stage work.

She shouted beamingly: ‘I love it. I’ve got my buzz back a bit.

Sheridan avoided speaking directly about the show’s closure, joining presenters Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston on Heart Breakfast on Friday morning as she insisted ‘things are going really well’

Sheridan also addressed the mind-boggling plot, as she explained: “It’s very different, it’s very strange. It’s a kind of brave, daring theater. “It’s not something that would normally happen in the West End.”

She added: “I’m just really proud of it and the company is so talented.”

Sheridan recently begged people to come see the show after it was criticized by theatergoers who claimed it was ‘boring’ and walked out mid-show.

The production was criticized by critics and audience members, despite praise for Sheridan’s performance, including her giddy “drunk” on the street outside.

Announcing the news on Thursday, the production team said the play “may not have had the life we ​​hoped for”

“This is so different from anything else I’ve done, so I’ve definitely gotten the theater buzz back.”

After the news that the series of the play had been cut short, the the production team said the play “may not have had the life we ​​hoped for.”

Sheridan recently begged people to come see the show after it was turned away by theatergoers who claimed it was ‘boring’ and walked out mid-show.

However, it appears her plea wasn’t enough to mobilize audiences for the poorly judged play – which producers have now admitted was ‘always a risk’.

It was revealed earlier this week that ticket prices for the show have been reduced.

Producers Wessex Grove said: ‘It is an honor to produce this beautiful new musical in the West End, and everyone at Wessex Grove is proud to have delivered the artistic vision of Ivo Van Hove and Rufus Wainwright and their incredible team, led by the excellent Sheridan Smit.

“In a challenging financial landscape, Opening Night was always a risk and while the production may not have had the life we ​​hoped for, we are immensely proud of the risk we took and this extraordinary production.

“Our world-class cast delivers a brilliant show night after night, and there are still five weeks to see Sheridan Smith in the role of a lifetime. What is certain and safe has its place.

‘But Wessex Grove exists to produce great artists in the West End and to provide a space for original, artist-led productions in the commercial sector, productions exactly like Opening Night.

“We are grateful for all the support everyone has given us during the making of this show, and look forward to celebrating the rest of its run.”