Not many entries of celebrities being in a bad light. I live in the same street as a major family-friendly TV national treasure comedian noted for his calm and agreeable manner. One time years ago I saw him when his young child had laid down on their back right in the entrance to a big busy branch of Tescos and he was standing over them red-faced and screaming "GET UP ! GET UP ! GET UP !". Parents the world over will sympathise. He's got a nice house, worth about £6m.
To be fair (not that anyone has to be fair with the DM or the Sun) they’re making it very clear that this isn’t Sheridan’s fault. They’re specifically saying or quoting people saying her performance is good. Slagging off the production/concept is exactly what most people here have been doing since it opened and indeed saying way more critical things than the press have said. Double standards? As for The Telegraph saying it should stay open after giving it two stars and calling it a “pretentious convoluted mess” is a bit rich. It’s behind the paywall so I can’t see his justification for it staying open, what’s his rationale?
I'm not a fan of either publication, it is true, but the reality is that the combined readership is massive, and all the negative articles being churned out on a seemingly daily basis will harm the production's prospects.
It's an avant garde show, so it was never going to be a massively commercial audience pleaser.
The point I was trying to make is that, had a lesser known actress been the lead, there would not have been the endless articles saying how crap it is. I accept that Sheridan Smith's performance has garnered some pretty good notices.
The Mail and the Sun are hammering this production with all of their so called 'articles' and will probably lead to it closing early. All published because Sheridan Smith is in it. Total scumbags. P*sses me off.
At least Baz has wellied in with a bit of positivity:
And Dominic Cavendish recognises its worth in the West End landscape even if he didn't particularly care for it:
Why has the Menier lost its mojo? Everything seems to be papering and just not getting much buzz. It seems a long way off from its glory days of multiple transfers to the glittering West End.
I'm curious about the next sohoplace show. I imagine they will be announcing soon due to the limited run for Red Pitch, but nonetheless interested to see what they might do. Would love to see them take on another classic like Medea, recent shows have been more contemporary
I would imagine an announcement will be coming very soon as Red Pitch is due to finish on 4th May.
Also expecting some sort of announcement soon for the Harold Pinter.
This comment from the always thoughtful critic Marianka Swain, got me thinking. After describing misogny depicted, she starts off describing Myrtle then turns to Sheridan Smith:
"It’s also troubling to see the company’s blithe disregard for their lead’s wellbeing, to the point where she’s lying catatonic on the floor. I hope that’s one area where life doesn’t imitate art, and that Smith has great support for this courageous – and personally cathartic – performance."
I've sometimes seen shows where the 'Creatives' list includes a 'health and wellbeing' expert, or 'mental health advisor', but nothing is listed on the website for this show. I'm not suggesting this isn't taken care of in some way, for the whole cast to access (not just Smith), but it does feel like a show where signaling the care taken might be something an audience would like to know, to feel more receptive to watch.
Swain's comment is ill-informed. Wessex Grove are quite ahead of the curve in providing support, and proactively engage on their shows with Applause for Thought to support the company. Sheridan Smith said as much herself in her Front Row interview. Their company care is also endorsed in Nicola Hughes' Instagram post today.
Surely it can't last all the way till July with that reception?
I don't think it did. Four stars from Guardian, Time Out and Daily Mail will be enough for the advertising. Even Clive in the Times didn't lambast it and gave it three stars.
Not a musical but to a lot of people's surprise, The Enfield Haunting managed to complete its West End run, when many thought it would never manage to open in London, so bad was the word of mouth from the tour.
Does anyone know about the Garrick? Curious as I know For Black Boys has extended four weeks, but might they get something to fill the June/July gap between this and Why Am I So Single?
announcing Very Soon
Is it another Kenny Wax show? He seems to singlehandedly fill Nimax venues.
This is the most appalling show I think I’ve ever seen.
Was it deliberately created to test the audiences patience? (As well as rip them off)
The timeless, witless music and lyrics are the worst I’ve ever heard. If they ever record it (they won’t… can’t… MUST’NT) it could be used to torture people.
Sheridan’s ‘singing ‘ was absolutely painful. She can’t sing and this exposes her terribly. A load of tuneless screeching. Even Audra McDonald couldn’t sell these songs though to be fair.
What is her character supposed to be? What is the point in all this?
I felt embarrassed for every single person on stage. What on earth must they all be thinking- looking out at the dead eyed audience- slowly losing the will to live? There are some seriously talented people on that stage. None of them deserve this. The audience reaction was bewilderment throughout. The shameless curtain call is perhaps the single most mortifying thing I’ve ever seen on a stage. No we won’t get up and clap. No it wasn’t good. Stop trying to engineer a standing ovation.
I hated every single moment of this show and I hope it closes the day after reviews come out. I’d rather Thriller Live go into this theatre than this. At least that would give an audience some entertainment and joy.
Ivo Van Hove and Rufus Wainwright should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
But did you like it? Ha, God, I wonder will this last?
I'm curious about the next sohoplace show. I imagine they will be announcing soon due to the limited run for Red Pitch, but nonetheless interested to see what they might do. Would love to see them take on another classic like Medea, recent shows have been more contemporary
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Till the Stars Come Down transferred there at some point this year.