Defiant Sheridan Smith fans insist actress will 'bounce back' as they turn up ... trends now
Defiant Sheridan Smith fans tonight have 'insisted she will 'bounce back' as they turned up to watch her problem-plagued West End musical, Opening Night, despite it being cancelled two months early after it was blasted by critics and audiences.
Theatre-goers turned out in their hundreds to watch the show's first performance since producers announced its run at the Gielgud Theatre in London was to be cut short.
The show will now end its run on Saturday May 18, two months earlier than originally planned on July 27 - with producers blaming a 'challenging financial landscape' for the shock decision.
Some fans were forced to bring their theatre trip forward after the theatre contacted them to warn that the much-slated play was to close early.
Nicki Shepherd, 53, and daughter Emily Dicker, 18, from Guildford, said they received an email saying their original June performance would not now go ahead.
Emily said: 'I think it's really interesting to know why ticket sales haven't gone as planned.
Nicky added: 'We got an email earlier on saying that our performance in June had been cancelled.
'So we can either get an exchange for an earlier date or a refund. We couldn't do an earlier date because Emily is at university. So we thought we'd come today last minute.'
Theatre-goers turned out in their hundreds to watch the first performance of Sheridan Smith's Opening Night since producers announced its run at the Gielgud Theatre in London was to be cut short
Veteran Radio presenter Alex Lester and his wife Kerry said they didn't regret turning out for the show branded 'muddled' and 'boring' and said Sheridan Smith would 'bounce back'
Sheridan's Smith problem-plagued West End musical, Opening Night, has today been cancelled - she was pictured here leaving the Gielgud Theatre in London after last night's show
Theatre-goers head into the Gielgud Theatre in London this evening to watch Opening Night after the announcement that the show will end two months earlier than expected
Emily added: 'The reviews have been mixed but we're both big theatre fans and Sheridan Smith is such a wonderful actress so we had to see it.'
Veteran Radio presenter Alex Lester and his wife Kerry said they didn't regret turning out for the show branded 'muddled' and 'boring'.
Kerry, 62, said: 'We're both big Rufus Wainwright fans and when we went to see him in concert he said how much he loved Sheridan after meeting her.
'So we just decided we wanted to see the show.
Former Radio 2 host Alex, 67, added: 'We're not at all put off by the cancellation and if we didn't go toa show because of a bad review then we'd never see anything at all.'
Another fan, who gave her name as Caroline, said: 'I came because of Sheridan- she's such a great actress. She's been brilliant in all her TV dramas so I couldn't miss the chance of seeing her live.
'This is a disappointment for her, sure, but she will bounce back. She has had a bad press but she keeps coming back. She's so versatile.'
One wheelchair-bound fan said as he went in: 'It's a great shame but I haven't seen it yet. I'm a big fan of Sheridan and a big fan of Amy Lennox.
'The reviews have been very mixed but I always like to make up my own n mind. I don't regret buying my ticket- let's wait and see.'
Announcing the news on Thursday, the show's production team said that the play 'may not have had the life we had hoped for'.
Sheridan recently implored people to come and see the show after it was slammed by theatregoers who claimed it was 'boring' and walked out half way through.
However, it seems her plea wasn't enough to mobilise audiences for the poorly reviewed play - directed by Ivo Van Hove and with music by Rufus Wainwright - which producers have now admitted was 'always a risk'.
Fans queue up at the Gielgud Theatre to watch Sheridan Smith's Opening Night tonight, which began at 7.30pm
Some fans were forced to bring their theatre trip forward after the theatre contacted them to warn that the much-slated play was to close early
The production had been blasted by critics and audience members, despite praise for Sheridan's performance which includes her staggering 'drunkenly' in the street outside
Opening Night will now end its run at the Gielgud Theatre in London on Saturday May 18, two months earlier than originally planned on July 27 (Sheridan pictured at the play's press night)
Announcing the news on Thursday, the production team said that the play 'may not have had the life we had hoped for'
Sheridan was seen smiling, dressed down in a sweater and jogging bottoms, as she came away from the theatre after last night's performance.
She was given moral support by her friend Charley Webb who had attended the show, as well as words of wisdom and encouragement from fans who had gathered at the stage door.
Charley popped to a nearby shop to buy cigarettes and biscuits before the pair set off in the same car.
Announcing the early end of the run today, producers Wessex Grove said: 'It is an honour 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 exquisite Sheridan Smith.
'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. What is sure-fire and safe has its place.
'But Wessex Grove exists to produce great artists in the West End and to provide the space for original, artist-led productions in the commercial sector, productions exactly like Opening Night. We're grateful for all of the support everyone has given us as we made this show, and look forward to celebrating the rest of the run.'
It comes just days after the musical was hit by another issue when Sheridan was 'banned' from leaving the theatre due to a nearby crime scene.
The show is performed in a venue situated between two pubs in London's West End, naturally attracting rowdy drinkers.
During the show, Sheridan's character Myrtle Gordon goes out onto the street to perform a scene while the audience watch from a screen inside - which has been surprising and sometimes fooling passers-by outdoors.
Myrtle, who is a functioning alcoholic actress, is filmed slumped outside the stage door, however her
